IUOE News - Winter 2012

LOCAL 115 

December 2012 

News 

2012 

One of the best years in decades 

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40011378 

www.iuoe115.com

IUOE News is the official 

publication of the International 

Union of Operating Engineers 

Local 115. 

Local Executive Board 

Business Manager 

Brian Cochrane 

President 

Wayne Mills 

Vice-President 

Brad Randall 

Recording Secretary 

Brian Lefebvre 

Financial Secretary 

Don Swerdan 

Treasurer 

Frank Carr 

Guard 

Bob Higgs 

Conductor 

Dave Hannis 

Trustees 

Brett Chapman 

Brian Moore 

Curtis Wright 

Auditors 

Chip Dhaliwal 

Goretti Guibault 

Craig McIntosh 

District Executive Board 

1—Al Cooper 

2—Tim Cullen 

3—Brad Gerow 

4—Herb Conat 

5—Mike Spiruda 

6—Brian Lefebvre 

Publication Committee 


Wayne Mills 

Lynda Arland 

Editorial Services 

Susan Armstrong, COPE 378 

Face 2 Face Communications, 

CFU 2040 

4333 Ledger Avenue, 

Burnaby, B.C., V5G 3T3 

Telephone: 604-291-8831 

Fax: 604-473-5235 

Website: www.iuoe115.com 

E-mail: iuoe@iuoe115.com 

Please 

Recycle 

COVER PHOTO: 

The first piece of tunnel liner 

being hoisted into the tail 

race end of the Waneta dam. 

Photo by Bob French. 

FEATURES 

A principled unionist with a long history 3 

Local 115 member helps rescue endangered marmot 13 

Congratulations to our 10-, 20-, 30-, 40-, 50- and 60-year members 25 

REPORTS 


This year marked by many positives 1 

President 

Neither cold, nor drought, not rain will stop Operating Engineers 2 

District 1 

Hours of work are up 5 

Steady work brings new members 6 

Negotiations update 7 

Bargaining update 7 

Another milestone achievement 8 

2012 was good...2013 will be exciting 9 

Progress being made in the North 10 

Unions: The people who brought you weekends 11 

Dispatch 

Work so far has been steady 5 

Union Organizing 

Credit union membership pays off 11 

Kitimat site gears up for winter 11 

District 2 

Work steady on Vancouver Island 12 

District 3 

Our issues brought to MP’s attention 14 

Looking back on 2012 14 

District 4 

Year-end review reveals a strong work picture 16 

District 5 

Projects progressing well 17 

District 6 

Pre-election goodies may be coming 18 

Many issues slowing the coal industry 18 

Benefits & Pension 

Financial position of pension plan remains strong 20 

Training Association 

This year was fantastic, next year will be busy 21

As we close 2012, we can say without a doubt there have been 

many positives for our Membership. Our strength has grown to just 

over 11,000. Hours worked by IUOE Local 115 Members year over 

year is up 11.4%, which rivals the best we’ve seen in decades. 

And so while massive unemployment, civil unrest, spending cuts 

and other pressures plagued many countries across the world, here in 

British Columbia at least we’re experiencing some pretty good times. 

In fact, our priorities are about finding workers and providing training 

for the next generation of workers so we can supply the many 

projects that are scheduled to go ahead in the coming years! Now 

that’s worth celebrating. 

In regard to our well-publicized court case involving the federal 

There are going 

to be many great 

careers for 

tradespeople 

across this province 

in the coming years. 

This year 

marked by 

many positives 

Brian Cochrane, Business Manager 

Temporary Foreign Worker 

Program, particularly the 200 

Chinese Mineworkers being granted 

permission under the program 

to enter the country to work for 

HD Mining International’s Murray 

River Project in Tumbler Ridge, we 

have good news to report. A federal court judge agrees that our complaint 

against the program in this case has merit and recognizes our 

public interest standing to seek a judicial review of that decision. This 

too is worth celebrating. 

Frankly, it’s hard to believe our Government is so lax as to allow 

multi-national corporations Huiyong Holding Group and Canadian 

Dehua International Mines Group to bring in low-wage workers from 

another country to mine our natural resources, as opposed to working 

diligently to ensure Canadians are the beneficiaries of these 

opportunities first and foremost. This must change. 

In this regard, I and many others believe we are facing a very slippery 

slope in British Columbia and Canada when it comes to allowing 

an ever increasing amount of foreign nationals to work at jobs that 

Canadians can do and should get first. The entire labour movement 

across this country have fought long and hard to protect every worker’s 

right to a safe work environment and to bargain for good Collective 

Agreements, both of which create a decent standard of living for our 

Members and those elsewhere. Therefore, if we don’t change the current 

TFW program, our futures in terms of safety standards and 

decent wages will be dramatically impacted. So stay tuned for further 

developments. 


There are going to be many great careers for 

tradespeople across this province in the coming 

years. But if we’re going to realize this our government 

needs to step up with adequate investment 

in order to train and develop the skills of our 

younger workers. Only by increasing our human 

resource capacity can we ensure BC resource jobs 

go to BC residents. It only makes sense. 

While Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Pipeline 

Project continues to rightfully generate controversy, 

we need to remember that our standard of 

living in this country is supported by resource 

development, particularly oil sands development 

projects in Alberta. It’s also worth noting that 

there’s a 100-year supply of oil locked up in the oil 

sands, all of which has to find a way to the world 

market. 

Pipelines not only provide good employment 

for our Members, but Canada needs them. 

Pension plans and most mutual funds invest in oil 

sands-related companies because they can be 

relied upon for a good return. This is what supports 

retirement funds – yours and mine. 

If you are a Member of the Operating 

Engineers Benefits Plan, you will soon be receiving 

in the mail a new Pay Direct Drug card. We 

are proud to provide this new benefit and to be 

working with Pacific Blue Cross as our new service 

provider. It was a big undertaking with countless 

hours of detail to ensure we made a smooth 

transition. I want to thank the staff in the Benefits 

department, who did an excellent job. 

I also want to commend the dedication of the 

entire staff for working to do the right thing by 

our Members. They have work hard this year to 

make all the recent changes at the office as seamless 

as possible. They have exercised leadership to 

get the job done right and to make sure we are 

better positioned to meet the challenges of 2013 

and beyond. 

continued on page 33 

December 2012 News 1

President 

2 News December 2012 

Neither cold, nor drought, nor rain 

will stop Operating Engineers 

Wayne Mills, President 

Spring sprung as one of the coldest on record, summer 

finally showed and set another record for being the driest 

ever recorded, and then fall came too quickly but it wasn’t 

half bad. With any kind of luck, it will snow like never before 

and Christmas will be white and fun, at least for the kids and 

those of us young at heart. With winter charging at us, 

remember that time waits for no man (or woman); we need 

to review some good things that are happening. 

After 40 years in the Burnaby head office, we are in the 

process of a major retrofit starting with the windows. Your 

Union has also done an upgrade of the Kamloops office, and 

as well we have purchased the building where the Elk Valley 

office is located. The Operating Engineers Benefit Plan has 

some great improvements starting January 1, 2013. A drug 

card for our active Members as well as improvement to eyeglasses, 

life insurance, short-term and long-term disability 

insurance, all great things as our organization continues to 

increase. 

As you have read many times in this publication, organizing 

is an important part of keeping our Union growing 

and continually moving forward. Over the last two years, 

under the guidance of Business Manager Brother Brian 

Cochrane, our Union has grown about ten percent. That is a 

very nice start to the decade. 

There is a lot of work in the cards over the next few years: 

pipelines, liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants, energy projects, 

mines and the infrastructure all over the province that 

is slowly falling apart. The main factor will be the world 

economy, with the big five being the United States, Europe, 

China, India and Brazil. If these economies do not tank, as 

they did a few years back, then there will be a huge demand 

for natural resources and power. 

How many of these jobs will be Union we do not know, 

but a big part of that depends on you. The more Union jobs, 

the more market density, and the better opportunity for you 

to improve your contract and your pension. If you end up on 

a job and it is non-union, then let both the organizing department 

and a Members Representative know; make that job 

Union! If you know of someone who is a top-notch operator 

or tradesperson, help them to become an OE. Remember, we 

have a skills shortage and there is a construction boom ramping 

up, so there will be a shortage of qualified people. For 

some trades it is already here, and for some it will be happening 

soon. 

Everyone needs to remember that in construction we 

build things, that aren’t always where we live, so we don’t 

always get to go home each night to our spouse and the kids. 

Keep this in mind when the Christmas bills start to roll in 

January, as there are some orders the dispatchers have trouble 

filling: we do need top-notch qualified operators that are 

prepared to work out of town. 

In closing, I want to say Merry Christmas to you, your 

family and friends and have a happy, safe holiday season, 

good health and prosperity for 2013. I also want to welcome 

all of our new Members and I hope they have long and prosperous 

careers as Operating Engineers. To our Shop Stewards, 

Safety Reps and Committee Members, thank you for the 

endless hours that you have put in on behalf of the Union 

and the Members you work with. As always, may the best 

things that happened to you in 2012 be the worst of your 

problems in 2013 and safe travels. 

Brother Josh Vanderzwan working on the new wing of the Surrey 

hospital. Photo supplied by Mega Cranes

The 52-year member of 

the IUOE Local 115 was 

born 81 years ago, grew up 

in Prince George and spent 

most of his working life in 

northern B.C. and Yukon as 

a heavy equipment operator, union organizer and elected 

member representative. 

Now living in Burnaby with his wife Yvonne (they were 

married the same year he became a Local 115 member), he 

spends time visiting home-bound and hospitalized members 

and presenting awards to long-time members in Metro 

Vancouver. Sadly, his duties also include attending funerals 

of members. 

Slyman’s son, Brad, is a Local 115 member who helped 

build the Millennium SkyTrain line and is currently working 

on an earthquake-resistant floating foundation on a highrise 

project on the former Fantasy Gardens site. 

“I worked mostly on road building and dams,” said 

Frank, “including the two big dams in the Hudson Hope 

area. I ran almost every kind of heavy equipment except the 

big cranes.” 

In 1971, after working 11 years on construction sites all 

across the North, he was hired as a dispatcher for the Local 

Union’s northern district office. 

Soon after, he became involved in organizing non-union 

workers. “I would regularly fly up to Whitehorse, then get in 

a car and drive all over [servicing the Yukon], then fly back 

to Prince George and then fly to Watson Lake and then back 

to Whitehorse and finally back to Prince George,” he said. “I 

took care of guys mostly on road jobs and some mining 

[sites] around the Faro area (Yukon), Watson Lake and 

Cassiar. I also used to drive from Prince George to Fort 

Nelson in one day—14 hours. 

“I organized everyone I could: miners, drivers, labourers. 

It didn`t matter. Every worker’s good enough to join the 

union,” he said proudly. “Once I helped organize a bunch of 

guys working on the Alaska Highway. I sent in the certification 

application to Victoria. The B.C. labour board said it 

didn’t have jurisdiction [the Alaska Highway is considered a 

federal highway] and that I should send it to Ottawa. Ottawa 

wrote back and said it was B.C. provincial jurisdiction. So I 

sent copies to both and said I would go to the King of England 

Focus on long-time member 

Frank Slyman 

A principled unionist with a long history 

By Marco Procaccini 

Frank Slyman knows the meaning of integrity and sticking to one’s principles in 

the face of adversity, from his experiences with cold temperatures, traveling long 

distances and having to work with bad bosses and staunch conservatives. 

to get the certification if I had to. So we got it from both. 

“Every time I applied for certification for anybody after 

that, I sent [applications] to both governments. You’ve got to 

use your imagination, because if you give up right away you 

never get anything done.” 

Slyman has never been shy about expressing his working 

class values in the electoral realm as well. “I’m big on the 

NDP,” he said, adding that he and his family and friends 

would proudly express their views and ideas even in front of 

intolerant Conservatives in the North. “During elections, we 

used to have to keep our NDP signs on the roof to keep them 

from being destroyed.” 

Nonetheless, Slyman said he felt most comfortable living 

in the North. “When dam building was going on in the 

Kootenays, they sent me down there to service the crews,” he 

said. “But I didn’t like it much, and I asked to move back to 

Prince George as soon as I could. 

“I’m used to the North. In the Kootenays I couldn’t get a 

breakfast at 6 a.m. I couldn’t find gas at 6 a.m. Places closed 

almost as soon as it got dark. In the North, places open earlier 

and stay open later, and even if they’re closed, like a gas 

station, you can just knock on the window and the guy will 

open up the place for you.” 

So why does a guy who has been a life-long resident, 

activist, family man and construction professional in the 

North end up settling in highly urbanized Burnaby for his 

retirement? 

“If I was still working, I would still be in Prince George 

since there are so many places to work and go to,” he said. 

But Burnaby’s central location allows him and Yvonne to be 

more active in retirement. Yvonne now does the driving 

since he turned in his license two years ago. “I sure wouldn’t 

want to retire and just sit in the mall with a bunch of guys 

and bitch and bellyache about everything.” 

Slyman is enjoying his retirement activities, especially 

delivering the local union’s prized 50-year watches to veteran 

members. “If a guy pays his dues for 50 years through tough 

and bad times, he sure deserves some kind of souvenir,” he 

said. 

Slyman also regularly visits the main office on Ledger 

Street, usually on Wednesdays around noon. You’ll see him 

there—that is, for a few minutes before he takes some of the 

union support staff to lunch. 


District 1 

IUOE Local 115 Executive Board 

Front row: President Wayne Mills, Member Rep Brett Chapman, Business Manager Brian Cochrane, 

Training Administrator Brad Randall, Member Rep Frank Carr, Auditor Goretti Guilbault and District 1 

Rep Al Cooper. Back row: Member Reps Brian Lefebvre, Herb Conat, Mike Spiruda, Brad Gerow, Curtis 

Wright, Don Swerdan, Brian Moore, Craig McIntosh, Tim Cullen and Chip Dhaliwal. 

IUOE Local 115 at Canadian Conference 

Front row: Member Bob Faskett, Member Rep Don Swerdan, Member Rep Everett Cummings, 

Member Rep Stewart Miller, Member Rep Curtis Harold and Business Manager Brian Cochrane. 

Back row: President Wayne Mills, Vice President Brad Randall, Member Rep Brian Lefebvre, Member Rep 

Wayne Kemp and Member Rep Brad Gerow. 

4 News December 2012

Hours of work are up 

Craig McIntosh, 

Member Representative 

Looking back on 2012, the Local 

Union Membership has had a positive 

year with hours of work up over 2011. 

In the Lower Mainland, construction 

of high-rise condos is keeping our 

excavation crews busy. Our Members in the road-building 

industry have been busy working on projects such as 

Highway #1 and South Perimeter Road, as well as city and 

municipal work. Crane Operators have been in high demand 

all year. Up until the last couple of years, the majority of 

crane operators in BC worked in the Lower Mainland. That 

has changed with many large industrial projects in Northern 

BC now underway. The Alcan Project in Kitimat will ramp 

up next year while the mine sites at Endako and Mount 

Milligan wind down. The construction of natural gas plants 

in the northeast has kept many crane operators busy. We 

also have crane operators at Logan Lake for the expansion of 

Highland Valley Copper Mine. 

Concerns for 2013 

A recent Vancouver Sun front page head line read as 

follows: 

“Chinese Workers Fill B.C. Mining Jobs. Canadians just 

don’t have the experience to operate equipment to extract coal. 

The first group of 200 temporary Chinese workers approved 

Brother Jarett 

Neufeld, with Mega 

Cranes, helped 

the Red Truck 

Beer Company 

ceremoniously break 

ground by dropping 

a red truck. 

The company 

wanted a unique 

way to begin 

construction on its 

new East Vancouver 

brewery rather than 

the traditional route 

with shovels and 

company executives. 

Photo courtesy 

of the Journal of 

Commerce 

District 1 

by the Federal Government will start arriving in BC in the 

coming weeks to work in the burgeoning Northeast Coal 

Industry”. 

Can You Believe This? Are there no local, Provincial or 

Canadian people that would be interested in this work and 

could be trained to do this work? I don’t care what nationality 

the people on the job site are. The problem I have is that 

when the temporary worker leaves after the job is over or 

when their work permit expires, they take with them the 

skills they have learned on the jobsite and do not contribute 

to the local or Provincial economy. When the next mine 

project starts, we still do not have an experienced workforce 

to draw from, because we were short-sighted and only hired 

temporary foreign workers. 

An example of this: Tunnel Boring Machine Operators 

will be needed for the Evergreen Line Project (Lougheed 

Mall, Burnaby to Coquitlam Centre). In 2005, temporary 

foreign workers were brought in for tunnel boring machines 

at the Seymour Capilano Twin Tunnel Project. Their foreign 

workers were also brought in for the Canada Line Tunnel 

Project. After these major projects, the workers have gone 

home and we do not have experienced Local TBM Operators 

here. 

Have a safe holiday season. 

Dispatch Report 

Work so far this year has been 

steady. If the projects that are in 

planning stages all get off the 

ground, it looks like things will stay 

busy for the members for the next 

few years. At this time we have not 

had any pipeline confirmed for this 

winter, but we remain hopeful that 

some pipeline will come through. I 

hope that everyone is able to get to a 

Jim Flynn, Dispatch 

District meeting and stay in the loop 

of what is going on with our Union. I would like to ask all 

the Members to make sure that they log on to www. 

WorkersBuildCanada.ca to fight Bill C-377. This bill will 

affect every working person in Canada, and not in a good 

way. In closing, we wish everyone a great holiday season 

and a happy and safe New Year. 

Regards, 

Jim 


District 1 

Another year 

past! It was 

another great 

year for work for 

the Members. With so much work 

around the Province, some of it camp 

work, it created some openings in 

Districts to give opportunity for new 

Members to join this great organization. 

With other work in the planning 

stages, along with the controversial 

Gateway pipeline project (if or when 

that gets the green light), the Members 

in the Local should have many great 

years to come. 

Locally, with the two tunneling 

projects. Frontier Kemper on the North 

Shore has about another two years of 

work left; they are installing the pipe, 

and shotcreeting the tunnel walls with 

a few modifications along the way. On 

the Fraser River crossing, McNally/ 

Brother Frank Pecenka 

Brothers Charlie Williams 

and Doug Hildebrand at the 

Pollard Equipment Shop. 


Steady work brings new members 

Everett Cummings, Member Representative 

Aecon JV has the shaft on the Surrey 

side dug out, and scuba divers are tying 

the rebar. 

Its interesting to see the two different 

styles of shafts and tunneling that 

are being used. Bencor, which is doing 

the slurry walls on the Coquitlam side, 

should have the last few panels poured 

in the next few weeks. Once the last 

panel is completed, McNally/Aecon 

will go on that side to start clamming 

out that shaft and ready to start lowering 

material down on the Surrey side, 

getting ready to start boring. 

B.A. Blacktop has been busy paving 

on Highway #1. They have finished 

many of the sections with a few areas 

still needing the top lift to be laid. 

Imperial Paving has been paving the 

South Perimeter Road with a lot more 

asphalt to lay down. The South 

Perimeter Road goes from Surrey out 

to Delta, merging with Delta Port Way. 

Recently I signed up a company 

called Moodyville Excavation; they 

team up with Atlas Leasing when Atlas 

is too busy to take on some of the excavator 

work. They have small excavators 

and stay busy around new developments, 

especially in some areas where 

you can’t get the bigger machines in. 

I would like to say thanks to all the 

shop stewards that help out; it is a difficult 

job at times, but the Reps really 

appreciate your dedication to help us. 

To serve the Members is what belonging 

to a real Union is all about. 

In closing, I wish you and your 

families a Merry Christmas, and prosperous 

New Year. Please play safe, and 

think ahead when going out over the 

Holidays. 

Work Safe!

Negotiations update 

Don Swerdan, Member Representative 

At the time of writing, the Island 

locations of Waste Management have 

voted to accept the document reached 

in negotiations by and between the 

Parties. There have been considerable changes made to their 

Collective Agreement which in many cases mirror the 

Interior Waste Management Collective Agreement. Both of 

these Agreements are 5 years in length and contain significant 

pension contribution and wage increases. The Health 

and Welfare Plan is also changing to a system that will allow 

Members to individually “buy-up” additional coverage in 

areas such as life insurance and Extended Health. When you 

consider that most companies are looking at their Benefits 

packages very closely with an eye to either reduce the benefit 

levels or increase the costs to the membership, it was 

refreshing to see that this company had a proposal that 

increased certain benefits. 

Brothers Bill Waterhouse, Neil Sutherland, Richard 

Jessen and Curtis Harold (the negotiating committee) did 

an exemplary job of representing the membership’s interests 

Bargaining update 

Chip Dhaliwal, Member Representative 

It’s been another busy few months, 

but with each added month of experience, 

I’m finding I can deal with the 

issues in a more proficient manner. 

I am currently in bargaining with 

Wastech, Thermo King, Hiway 

Refrigeration and Hiway Fuel Services. Wastech bargaining 

has come to a standstill and it looks like we’re headed for 

mediation/arbitration. Thermo King bargaining has also 

been very slow, but we’ll keep at it and hopefully we can 

present something to the crew shortly. Hiway Refrigeration/ 

Fuel Services bargaining has been complicated by the sale of 

the Hiway Refrigeration division. The two companies will 

now have to be bargained separately. We will need to separate 

the Certificate of Bargaining Authority so each company 

has its own Certificate. Hiway Fuel Services will need a 

brand new Collective Agreement. 

Western One Production Equipment has opened two 

new shops, one in Prince George and one in Kelowna. I’m 

currently in discussions with the company to bring these 

Brother Steven Monk with B&B Contracting working on a 

subdivision in Maple Ridge. 

District 1 

and should be congratulated for their hard work! 

On another note, we are still at the table negotiating 

with Wastech Services. The last number of meetings have 

not resulted in any movement, so we have referred all of the 

outstanding issues to a Mediator for a decision. 

Blue Water West Agencies Limited (formerly M.R. 

Smith) recently accepted the final document reached in 

negotiations. Congratulations! 

In closing, I want to wish every member and their families, 

a happy, safe and prosperous holiday season and a very 

Happy New Year! 

shops in with an addendum. The company is also requesting 

a few changes to better reflect the different market conditions 

in these geographical areas. We’re getting close to 

agreement on these issues. 

I am also close to coming to agreement with Clean 

Harbours on Job Progression language. The stumbling block 

was that the current employees require inherently different 

language from what the new employees require. 

Atlas Copco Thiessen is expanding rapidly to meet the 

demand for its product. The company seems to be hiring 

new employees every month. Congratulations to all the 

members at Atlas Copco Thiessen in Langley for all the 

excellent work they have put in to creating this demand. 

Since my last article, I have successfully completed the 

“Train the Trainer” course. This should help in preparing 

for presentations or setting up a course as an instructor. 

In closing, I’d like to welcome Brother Stewart Miller to 

the staff. He is a great addition to the team and I look forward 

to working with him. 


District 1 

Frank Carr, Member Representative 

What a great end to the summer! 

The weather was beautiful and it gave 

us a few extra weeks to work in before 

the heavy rains in October began. 

Reflecting on 2012, your Union has 

taken on many challenges with 

Business Manager Brother Brian 

Cochrane leading the way. As a result we have a membership 

base of over 11,000 members, a milestone and something 

to be really proud of. He has hired Member 

Representatives throughout the province to better serve you 

and as a result, with their enthusiasm, hard work and assistance 

from the membership, we can see the difference it has 

made. All the positive changes don’t end there: beginning 

January 1st, we will see improvements to our Benefits Plan 

with a pay direct card, no deductible, vision care, weekly and 

long term disability, group and accidental life, and more. 

During 2012, your local Union officers met with many 

NDP candidates to support them and discuss issues that are 

important to Operating Engineers. There are many things 

that the Liberals have done to make our lives more difficult 

and less affordable: cutbacks, the HST fiasco, raising taxes, 

MSP increases, hydro rates, and changes to the Labour Code 

and apprenticeships, just to name a few. With that in mind 

and the Provincial Election coming up next year, after 11 

years of the Liberals we will once again have the chance to 

elect a government that will stand up for working people 

and their families: the NDP. 

I have been serving on the Transportation Trades Supply 

and Demand Committee. The committee had selected two 

consulting companies to research and study the training 

systems of four transportation sector occupations, 

including 

• Diesel Engine Mechanic 

• Heavy Equipment Operator 


Another milestone achievement 

• Heavy Duty Equipment Technician 

• Truck and Transport Mechanic (Commercial 

Transport Vehicle Mechanic) 

Flowing from the studies were a number of recommendations 

regarding the Heavy Equipment Operators: to continue 

to pursue the Red Seal status, to build common 

accreditation for trainers, and to encourage employers to 

hire and train using apprentices. Anticipated growth for the 

trades over the next 10 years will be driven by economic factors 

with moderate growth. The estimated demand for technicians 

will be around 400 per year, and 220 heavy equipment 

operators. The report provides an analysis of the transportation 

trades and can be found online at http://www.tcda.ca/ 

news/20120801/training-system-assessment-report. 

I would like to congratulate Brother Brian Lefebvre and 

the negotiating committee on their successful ratification of 

the SMS collective agreement, and Brother Wayne Mills and 

the committee on the tentative agreement for Brandt Tractor. 

A lot of time and hard work went into finding settlements 

for both. I have had the opportunity to work with Members’ 

Representative Brother Stewart Miller and he is doing a 

great job and will serve the membership well. 

Next year we will have proposal meetings for the following 

agreements which expire in 2013: 

(1) Standard Pile Driving, Dipper, Clamshell and related 

work agreements (Provincial); 

(2) Road Building Paving (Lower Mainland); and 

(3) Road Building Utility agreements (Lower Mainland). 

Write down your proposals. We will send out meeting 

notices soon. 

Best wishes to you and your families this holiday season 

and thank you to the shop stewards and members that have 

assisted me throughout the year. 

Brother Dustin McCauley, job steward, at Jamieson 

Quarries

2012 was good … 2013 will be exciting 

Bob Higgs, Member Representative 

The year 2012 is coming to a close 

and what a year it’s been. The hours of 

work for our Members were outstanding. 

All the predictions for this year 

were average to slow. I’m not sure 

where they get their information from, 

but they could not have been farther 

from the mark. Although the Members aren’t receiving as 

many overtime hours as they did in 2007, there were more 

Members working full-time hours than in the last few years. 

The work in northern BC has been and will be for the 

unforeseeable future a major drain on manpower in the 

Lower Mainland. This is great news for entry level members 

as it opens the door for new hires. Due to the shortage of 

skilled workers, employers are taking on an unusual number 

of apprentices. So this is an ideal time to participate in one 

of our many apprenticeship programs. It seems that the 

majority of the work here is in the private sector with some 

municipal work to fill the voids. All in all, it’s been a remarkably 

good year for our Members and our Union. 

Looking forward into next year is exiting. If the indicators 

are right, we’ll see some very welcome and needed 

changes to our government and in turn to the labour code. 

Over the last 12 years, we have seen both Union and nonunion 

workers’ rights being systematically stripped away to 

the point that if someone were to look from the outside, in 

they would think we were a third world country. With the 

rules that are in place now, it is extremely difficult to unionize 

a workplace. I would hate to guess at how many workers 

lost their jobs trying to exercise their rights to join a Union 

Brother Jeremy Steinart in his old machine working for B&B 

Contracting. He wanted a “before picture” before he gets to work 

on a new Komatsu. 

District 1 

of their choice over the last decade. The sad part is the worst 

violator of the labour code in this province is our own liberal 

government. The violations to the code started almost from 

the first day they took office when an MLA tore up an existing 

collective agreement and arbitrarily imposed a wage 

reduction on the people working under that agreement. 

That MLA is the new leader of the liberals. With that in 

mind, I could not imagine this government with a brand 

new 4-year term under this leader. The Province of BC is 

heading to the polls in May, and if you remember anything 

from this article, please remember to get out and vote, and 

make sure your friends and family get out and vote too. We 

need to send a strong message to all governing parties that 

the working people of BC need and want a government that 

will work with us and not fight us on every level. 

As I’m writing this, the Federal Conservatives along 

with the Provincial Liberals are planning on bringing in 

temporary foreign workers to work in a coal mine in 

Northern BC. They say we can’t do the work and that no one 

from BC applied but one of the skills needed to work at this 

mine was the ability to speak Mandarin. At last count, that’s 

less than 2% of the total population of the province. Once 

again, get out and vote. 

All in all, I think next year is going to be even more 

exciting than this one was and I’m looking forward to all the 

good times and the challenges that 2013 will bring us. For 

now, enjoy the holidays, have a great New Years’ celebration 

and I’ll see you on the job sites soon. 

Happy Holidays and a Safe New Year. 

Brothers Bruce Usui, Bob Belley, Eric Sykes, Al Hurley, Brad 

Slyman and Carey Atchison, working with Geopac in Richmond, 

with the new soil-mixing machine. 


District 1 

Hello Brothers and Sisters! It’s been 

an exciting few months since my last 

article. We have been successful with 

respect to an arbitration between the 

Union and Peace River Coal in regards 

to contracting out … it was a tough 

grind but we got ’er-done. I would like to welcome Brother 

Stewart Miller and Brother Shawn Hatch to the team and 

wish them luck in their new endeavors. I would like to wish 

all our members a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New 

Year. I also have a special thanks to Brother Dan Peever and 

his wife Debbie for their hospitality. I would also like to 

thank all my shop stewards for all your hard work this past 

year and I’m looking forward to another strong year with 

you. Shop steward training courses will be coming up; it’s 

just a matter of nailing down some dates so please be patient. 

As we move into the New Year, I will be looking for any 

information that can be provided to me with respect to organizing. 

This is a never ending job that we all have to keep in 

mind and stay on top of. Remember, it’s organize or die. If 

there are members out there with any solid leads, please don’t 


Progress being made in the North 

Brett Chapman, Member Representative 

During this year’s Canadian 

Conference, the IUOE General 

President James Callahan touched on 

the subject of how it’s always a struggle 

being part of a labour union. You’re 

always getting pokes from right wing 

groups, or multi-billion dollar corporations; 

they’re always trying to squeeze us for everything 

while they continue in their greed to get richer. 

Employers and workers should understand that Unions 

are not a bad thing, and are there to work with them and not 

against them. 

Unions are not going away. Unions are the way of the 

future. We continue to fight hard to get workers fair wages, 

benefits, pensions, and opportunities to get ahead in life. 

Right wing politicians want to take that away from us; they 

want to pay fewer wages, minimal to no benefits, and no 

pensions. 

We need to do our part and educate our non-union family, 

friends and our neighbours. It was Unions that put in 

place simple things in the work place that they take for granted 

today. 

hesitate to give me a call. 

On the bargaining front, I have been busy negotiating a 

deal with First Truck (formerly known as Freightliner). We 

are looking for a deal that will satisfy the members at this 

location. I will be sure to update you upon ratification of the 

new changes in my next article. I have spent a lot of time in 

the north representing the members at PRC (Peace River 

Coal) which is a coal mine in Tumbler Ridge, BC. I have 

made some productive changes and will continue to do so. I 

have also made some new friends up there and am proud to 

say the least. I am also proud of the hard work our members 

are doing up there to help maintain the coal industry. I’m 

proud to say that the International Union of Operating 

Engineers donated to the Minor Hockey Association and 

the Youth Center in Tumbler Ridge. If I have any extra time 

I’ll be there as I will be donating it to the Little League hockey 

club as a time keeper. I have already taken part in this for 

the first time and found that it’s great fun. I look forward to 

getting out there and seeing as many members on the job 

sites as I can. Work safe, and I will see you in the field. 

Unions: The people who brought you weekends 

Stewart Miller, Member Representative 

For example: 

• the 40 hour work week 

• work breaks 

• payment of overtime 

• safe work environments 

• weekends 

• Labour Day stat holiday 

And the list could go on and on. 

The media are good at bad Union press. We have to be 

proactive and get the correct information out there. 

A great quote from Molly Ivins: 

“Although it is true that only about 25 percent of 

American workers are in unions, that 25 percent sets the 

standards across the board in salaries, benefits and working 

conditions. If you are making a decent salary in a non-union 

company, you owe that to the unions. One thing that corporations 

do not do is give out money out of the goodness of 

their hearts.” 

It is important that we stand together and believe in the 

same working rights. We all need to work together; we need 

to push back at those right wing groups, use the rules against 

them, and keep fighting for our rights.

Credit union membership pays off 

Jared Hamlin, Organizing Representative 

Recent controversy around large corporate banks has 

brought renewed attention to Credit Unions. While both 

offer a variety of financial services and products, there are 

many differences in terms of the ways these institutions 

serve and satisfy their customers. 

Credit Unions are not-for-profit organizations that are 

owned by their membership. They’re cooperative institutions 

in which members pool their resources to provide 

services to other members. 

Banks are for-profit organizations typically owned by 

shareholders. They must make a profit for their 

shareholders. 

As a member of a Union, you’ve worked hard to receive 

fair compensation, benefits, and respect from your employer. 

Shouldn’t you demand the same from your banking 

institution? 

Luckily for all of us we have an excellent choice: 

The Operating Engineers Branch of 

Community Savings Credit Union 

4950 Hastings Street, Burnaby, BC 

604-654-2000 or toll free (in BC) 888-963-2000 

At Community Savings, your Union dues entitle you 

to a collection of financial benefits that are unlike anything 

else you’ll find in Canada. In addition to competitive 

Kitimat site gears up before winter 

Rob Duff, Organizing Representative 

With a fresh dusting of snow on 

the tops of the mountains surrounding 

Kitimat, winter is not far off. The 

Kitimat Modernization Project (KMP) 

will be running through the winter, 

with the expected slowdown when the 

heavy snow starts to fall. 

We have 128 members on site at 

L O C A L 1 1 5 

this time; the majority are heavy equipment 

operators, excavators, loaders, 

packers, zoom booms. The Operating 

Engineers dispatch is doing a great job 

filling the orders for the camps in 

Kitimat with no outstanding at this 

time. 

The Kemano site is moving for- 

4 Hard hat 

4 Safety glasses 

4 Steel-toe boots 

ThinkSafety * 

Union Organizing 

financial products and the personal service we’re known 

for, you’ll receive the following benefits: 

1. Mortgage & Loan Postponement 

2. Lending Discount 

3. Legal Fees Discount 

4. Free Travellers Cheques 

5. Free Chequing 

6. Save 1/2% on a Line of Credit 

7. Earn a 1/4% Term Deposit Bonus 

8. Earn a 1/4% RRSP Bonus 

9. Safety Deposit Box Discount 

10. Like-Minded Causes 

One of the highlights that stood out for me is Mortgage 

& Loan Postponement. In the event of a labour dispute, as 

a member of a Union, you have the option to postpone 

regular mortgage and loan payments for up to three 

months in any given 12 month period. 

For more details on this and the other benefits listed 

above, please visit www.ComSavings.com/IUOE115. 

As a Community Savings member, you’ll be helping to 

support all the progressive and Union-sponsored causes in 

which we participate. 

Make the switch today; I did and it is paying off. 

ward, and the crews are working 

12-hour days seven days a week to meet 

the time line of the project. As the 

amount of snow on site will make it 

increasingly more difficult to meet 

their goals, it’s full speed ahead to beat 

Old Man Winter before the site is 

closed for the season. 

4 Ear protectors 

4 Reflective vest 

4 I’ll be home for 

Christmas 

*(It isn’t just a slogan, it’s a way of life.) 


District 2 

Hello Brothers and Sisters. 

Vancouver Island has had steady work 

over the last quarter of the year and 

will hopefully see the same in the New 

Year. 

Excavation has seen a good summer 

continuing into the fall. Chew 

Excavating has moved into the 

Hartland land fill and is working on 

Phase 3 of the Uptown project as well 

as the subdivision on Bear Mountain 

and maintenance work for Telus and 

BC Hydro. Hazelwood Construction 

is still at Bowen Road in Nanaimo and 

working at Jamie Creek Dam and the 

water main in Cedar. Upland Excavating has been very busy 

at the Quinsam Coal and NVI mine sites and subdivisions 

around Campbell River. 

The paving crews have been busy completing several big 

projects in the summer and are currently working on paving 

the Sombrero Bridge in Port Renfrew, the Pat Bay Highway 

from Wayne Road to the ferry terminal, and several other 

civil projects around the Island. 

Heavy Metal Rocks came to Nanaimo and was a great 

success, allowing over 30 high school students the opportunity 

to operate many pieces of heavy equipment. On behalf 

of IUOE Local 115, we would like to thank all of the retirees 

that volunteered over the 3 days of the event. Their contribution 

was made clear by the recognition from event organizers 

and the warm response from students. 

The sale of Crane Force to RKM Crane Services has 

We’re looking for photos from the field 

We welcome members to send action photos from the sites where 

they’re working. If your photo is used, you will receive an IUOE Local 

115 logo item. 

Traditional glossy colour prints — Send them to your district office or 

Media, IUOE News, 4333 Ledger Avenue, Burnaby, B.C., V5G 3T3. 

Digital images — Use the highest quality setting (“Fine/Superfine” or 

“Large”) on your digital camera. Drop off a CD at your district office or 

email your photos to: media@iuoe115.com. (You will only be able to 

email 1 or 2 at a time because the files will be large.) 

When sending photos, please make sure to include the location, date, 

name of person(s) and employers as well as a small description of 

what is taking place. We’ll make sure we get your prints or CDs back 

to you. 


Work steady on Vancouver Island 

Curtis Harold and Tim Cullen, Member Representatives 

been completed, and we are working on collecting the outstanding 

contributions funds. 

Point Hope Maritime has been successful at securing 

work for the crews around the shipyard, and expects a busy 

season. 

Advantage Crane has secured some future work on the 

Cape Scott Wind Farm which will allow for some equipment 

on site for the long duration of the project. 

At the time of writing, there was no word on the awarding 

of any of the three firms shortlisted for the John Hart 

Dam project in Campbell River, as well as the Johnson Street 

Bridge nor the Waste Water Treatment Facility in Victoria. 

The membership in the industrial shops is continuing 

their productive year and will likely see this into the fall 

season. 

The crew at Walco Industries have ratified their new 

agreement, and as of this article, we are voting the Waste 

Management locations on the Island. 

Workplace safety becomes even more challenging in the 

winter season. I would remind you all to stand together to 

deal with these issues. What might affect your co-worker 

today, could affect you tomorrow! 

We wish you and your family, a safe and happy holiday 

season. 

A reminder that as of January 2013, the meetings in Nanaimo 

will be changed to 6:00 pm. 

Please note that the location for the January 2013 meeting is 

as follows: 

DATE: Thursday, January 10, 2013 

TIME: 6:00pm 

PLACE: Halbe Hall in Black Creek

Local 115 member helps rescue endangered marmot 

By Leslie Dyson 

District 2 

Local 115 member Don Savard, the pit manager at Northwest Bay Quarry near Nanaimo, was working in early 

August when he spotted a lone Vancouver Island marmot. 

“I’m Metis and I’ve always been interested in nature,” he 

said. “I notice the animals. I knew what he was right away. 

Marmots like to inhabit mountainsides where there are no 

trees and with a southern exposure. And that’s exactly where 

he was.” 

Vancouver Island marmots are endangered and Savard 

was concerned that the quarry could have been shut down. 

However, biologist Shawn Lukas was asked to visit the site. 

The scientist was delighted to see how healthy the marmot 

was, but knew the animal couldn’t stay. 

Not only was the environment constantly being disturbed 

by heavy equipment not conducive to a marmot colony, 

“It was too low an elevation,” said Savard. “Marmots need 

three months of snow cover because they hibernate.” 

Brother Don Savard, working at Northwest Bay Quarry, was the first to spot this Vancouver 

Island marmot. Even though there was concern that the animal, a member of an 

endangered species, could have brought the gravel quarry work to an end, a biologist was 

called to the scene. 

—Photo donated by Nanaimo photographer Brad Currie (curriebrad@shaw.ca) 

Lukas captured the marmot and then sent a report to 

Savard telling him how the marmot was faring. He wrote: 

“Your marmot was kept in the Mt. Washington Marmot 

Recovery Facility where he was given a nice clean room with 

access to an outdoor patio enclosure. The marmot was found 

to be a male that weighed just shy of 5kg (very good size). 

“Marmots that we take in and implant with transmitters 

are given a physical exam to ensure good health and any samples 

or measurements are taken while the marmots are under 

anaesthetic. The entire process takes less than two hours. 

During this time, for our record keeping and to better keep 

track of the individuals while in the field, we give names for 

each. I felt it was appropriate that he was named “Quarry” so 

we would always know where he came from should he decide 

to go for another walk and end up in an unexpected 

location. 

On August 23, Quarry was flown to the Clayoquot Plateau. 

While he was waiting for his flight, he was eating lots of food 

and fresh cut greens from the ski slopes of Mt. Washington that 

were cut daily by the recovery team. He took well to the enclosure 

partially due to the activity and surroundings of your rock 

quarry and the presence of humans being close. 

There are spots where you can stop on the highway and 

look up to the mountaintops where the 

marmots are located. It’s a nice location for 

marmots because of the isolation and the 

area is protected by parks. Within the plateau, 

there are three colonies on different 

mountains. 

You can be reassured that he ended up 

at an established colony that was in need of 

a good-sized male like him (it keeps the 

females from leaving the meadows!). 

Everyone was astounded at the shape 

of Quarry and how healthy he was and no 

one has any doubt he’s going to do well out 

there. Thanks again Don! 

Savard has been running heavy 

equipment since he was 12. “I’m a little 

older now,” he laughed. “I can hardly 

believe I’m over 60.” Now he runs seven 

different pieces (rock breakers, excavators, 

loaders and articulated trucks), 

sometimes all on the same day. 

Savard is concerned about the environment but says the 

quarry isn’t a big area and the company makes sure there is 

no water with debris flowing into the streams. “The animals 

have gotten used to us,” he said. “I see elk and deer and the 

little ones are frisky and like to play in the gravel piles. It 

doesn’t interfere. The things I see with wildlife are amazing.” 

As for Quarry, Savard said, “He’s a great little fella. He’s 

gone on to a good life.” 


District 3 

Our issues 

brought to 

MP’s attention 

Brad Gerow, 

Member Representative 

Another year is coming to an end. As I sit 

here, the leaves are falling and the weather is 

changing. It has been another good year in the 

industrial side with lots of work in the mines. 

Our local shops have been busy this year with 

new and used equipment going to the mines. It 

has kept our members in these areas working long 

hours to make sure the equipment is ready. The 

mines have also been keeping the crane companies 

busy with expansions of the mine infrastructures 

and facilities. 

We have also taken time this year to make 

sure we talk to our local representatives in Ottawa. 

Brother Jared Hamlin and I were able to sit down 

with Conservative MP Cathy McLeod (Kamloops- 

Thompson-Cariboo) to discuss the issues that 

concern our members. We were able to discuss 

Bill C-377 and its implications, and how it will 

directly affect the privacy of our membership and 

the way we do business. We reminded her that we 

supply our members with a special edition of this 

magazine that goes over the finances of our 

Union. During our time with Ms. McLeod, we 

were also able to discuss the issue of temporary 

foreign workers and the fact that we have fully 

competent and trained members at our other 

locals south of the border who can be brought in 

to fill these positions without having to go overseas 

to recruit. 

There was also a discussion regarding trades 

training and reaching out to the youth of the 

province through programs like Heavy Metal 

Rocks. 

With elections coming up in the new year, it 

is time for everyone to make sure they get out and 

talk to our current and future representatives, so 

that they know the issues that concern and affect 

Operating Engineers members and our families. 

Brothers and sisters, I hope everyone has a 

safe and happy holiday season. 


Looking back on 2012 

Rob de Pfyffer, Member Representative 

Well Brothers and Sisters, with my first 

year behind me, I look back on all that has 

gone on, all those who have guided me, all that 

I have learned and I look forward to the great 

things ahead. 

It has certainly been a busy bargaining year starting with IRL in 

Vernon and the Road Builders in the spring. After several rounds, 

Waste Management, has a great agreement and a stable future. 

Kamloops Augering and the Village of Cache Creek have also been 

ratified. Talks are ongoing with James Western Star in Kelowna and 

Wastech Services. I want to thank all Members who helped in the 

process; we couldn’t have done it without you. 

To all the members and Shop Stewards I have relied upon, who 

have provided me with lots of advice, information, and support: 

thank you. Your assistance has been truly appreciated. And thanks 

to everyone on staff who has helped me this first year. In particular, 

I extend a special thank you to Brothers Don Swerdan and Chip 

Dhaliwal who kept answering my phone calls and questions. When 

I started, I was told to get ready to learn, and not to think of it as a 

steep learning curve, but more of a vertical wall. Wayne, you weren’t 

kidding. Having said that, I wouldn’t want it any other way! 

Although tough at times, the process, has been fun and rewarding. 

I most certainly look forward to gaining more experience and 

expanding my knowledge to further serve the Membership. 

As I look to the future of representing the Membership, I’m 

reminded that we are all the Union. After all, the chain is only as 

strong as its weakest link. My vision for this Union is that it will 

continue to grow and have greater influence in matters important 

to our Membership. Take Bill C-377 for example. Did you know 

that under this proposed legislation, any death benefit (in excess of 

$5,000) paid by the Union would become public knowledge - posted 

on a website? How can we fight this? Start by going to www. 

workersbuildcanada.ca and let your MP know that this is unacceptable. 

The more of us who do this, the stronger the push will be to 

end the attack on trade unions. The more Members we can grow 

with, the stronger our voice in all labour movement matters will be. 

I am committed to growing this Union and our market share, but I 

need your help. It can be as simple as the contact name of someone 

who wants to make a difference in their work place. It is not going 

to be easy and it’s not going to happen overnight, but together we 

can make the difference that counts. 

Lastly, everyone be safe, work safe, have a very Merry Christmas 

and a Happy New Year!

Brothers Mason Rail and Eric Sandegren working with Emil Anderson at Pritchard 

just outside of Kamloops. 

Brother Don Smith working with the Emil Anderson portable 

paving plant at Pritchard. 

Brother Justin Mainville, working with GWIL Crane, on a site with 

other Local 115 members from Kamloops Augering. 

Brother Rick Webster working with Emil 

Anderson Paving at Pritchard. 

Brothers Marty Wood and Rick Webster at Pritchard. 

District 3 

Brothers Don 

Gagnon and Jeff 

Munro standing 

in front of a 

10’ diameter 

steel pipe that 

will support a 

salmon-bearing 

stream under 

Highway 1 at 

176th Street in 

Surrey. 


District 4 

Year-end review reveals 

a strong work picture 

Herb Conat and Wayne Kemp, Member Representatives 

With Winter upon us, it is time to review this past year. The construction 

season in District 4 was stronger than past years. We had BFI Constructors, 

Rain Coast Cranes and Integrated Contractors Ltd at Mount Milligan, and 

Adventure Paving at Ridley Island Expansion. Emil Anderson Construction 

picked up work in Prince Rupert. The Backup Tunnel at Kemano site is moving 

along. The Kitimat Modernization Project demolition is completed and infrastructure 

is proceeding in Kitimat. 

The District Office has hired a new full-time Administrative Assistant 

Carrisa Blake who will assist the Representatives and Members. Welcome 

aboard! 

Formula Contractors signed with the Operating Engineers this year with 

an expanded bargaining unit. They have been busy throughout the province. 

Paving contractors had more work this year than in the past, but the city streets 

still have a ways to go. Still, what has been completed this year is a marked 

improvement from the spring. The equipment and truck shops in the local area 

have had a successful year, and all shops are looking for tradespeople. 

Rain Coast Cranes has recently sold their company to the Entrec 

Corporation from Alberta. Rain Coast Cranes has employed many Operating 

Engineers during their history with the Union, including 18 apprentices over 

the past 10 years. Former owner, Milton Lindsay recognized the looming skills 

trade shortages that were fast approaching, and the company continually 

acquired apprentices when there was no requirement to do so in the collective 

agreement. We should recognise this because their success story directly 

involves hiring apprentices that supported their industry and craft. Best wishes 


to Milton and Shirlee Lindsay, and may 

they have a long, healthy and enjoyable 

retirement. 

The Entrec Corporation, which also 

recently acquired Rain Coast Cranes and 

Mains Crane, were the previous owners of 

Eveready Industrial Western Ltd which 

were the leaders in their industry, bar 

none! We look forward to a long working 

relationship with Entrec as they have a 

proven record of high safety standards for 

the workforce. 

In closing, we would like to thank the 

shop stewards for their endless hours of 

work and dedication. It is these people 

who keep our jobs manageable. We wish 

everyone a happy holiday and we hope the 

New Year will bring you and yours good 

health and prosperity! 

Local 115 says goodbye to Brother Ray Conat 

Brother Ray Conat was born October 12, 1951 and passed away 

peacefully on October 28, 2012 in St. Paul’s Hospital. Survived by his 

Wife Leslie of 36 years, Son Christopher (Michelle), Daughter Lisa 

(Jay), Grandchildren Alyssa, Chloe, Paige, Madison and Kale. 

Brothers Mervin, Herb (Verna), Sisters Ellen (Kerri) and Rusty (Ken). 

Brother Ray was a second generation Operating Engineer and 

had been a member in good standing of Local 115 for over 34 years. 

Ray started working as an operator in the paving industry in the Prince 

George area. A few years later Ray moved to Prince Rupert and 

worked at the Ridley Island Expansion Project as a Shop Steward. In 

1995 he decided he wanted to be a mobile crane operator and off he went to the Operating Engineers Training Centre 

where he started and completed his apprenticeship. Over the next many years Ray worked as a ticketed Red Sealed 

Mobile Crane Operator for several different companies throughout the Province. Ray was a proud member of the 

Operating Engineers. For anyone that knew Ray, they would know that he was an ambassador of OE memorabilia 

always making his own trinkets, stickers and t-shirts. We would like to take this opportunity to wish his family well and 

to thank Ray for his many years of support and contribution to our Local Union. 

Donations on Ray’s behalf can be made to the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation, 178 – 1081 Burrard Street, 

Vancouver, B.C., V6Z 1Y6

District 4 meeting in October. 

District 5 

Projects progressing well 

Mike Spiruda, Member Representative 

Louisbourg Pipelines have completed the final 

cleanup of their Saturn project near Dawson Creek 

and will soon be finished final cleanup on their 

Horn River project near Fort Nelson. 

Michels Canada is presently working on a 340 

metre replacement of a 30” gas line for Spectra 

Energy north of Quesnel. This job is an open cut on 

the Cottonwood River and should be completed by year’s end. 

The new Shell, Encana and Spectra gas plants continue to progress 

with further phases of construction which are keeping the local crane 

industry busy. 

British Gas and Spectra Energy have now teamed up and joined the 

international parade of oil and gas producers with plans to export 

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Prince Rupert. Royal Dutch Shell 

LNG Canada project and Apache Kitimat LNG project are both planned 

for the Kitimat area. 

Many of the major gas producers and corporate pipeline companies 

recently attended the Energy Conference in Dawson Creek. The above 

noted projects are in various stages of planning, design, engineering etc. 

which will lead to the final investment decisions required prior to construction 

of any proposed facilities and pipelines. 

District 4 

Asian markets are looking for a source of 

secure natural gas supplies, but the major producers 

here need long term contracts and they 

want the price tied to a percentage of a barrel 

of oil equivalent. The Asian customers also 

know that our North American natural gas 

market is oversupplied and prices have been 

extremely depressed. 

Therefore, they have so far been reluctant 

to lock themselves into purchase agreements 

that could cost them much more down the 

road. I hope that all parties involved can reach 

an agreement soon so we can get on with 

building some of these projects which will 

benefit all British Columbians for many generations 

to come. 

I would like to thank all Stewards for their 

dedication and hard work this past year. 

Merry Christmas and wishing you all a 

Prosperous New Year. 


District 6 

Hello from the Sparwood office. 

It’s mid-October now and winter is just around 

the corner. With that, it’s time to winterize the vehicle, 

paying attention to the tires and wipers. We don’t want 

any members or their family’s being in an accident, so 

drive carefully! 

The work situation has slowed somewhat since my last report. Due to 

many issues in the coal industry, the mines are not handing out the contracts 

the way they were this past spring and summer. The net result is less 

work for our members who work for these companies. In fact, KMC has 

moved all of its equipment back to northern Alberta until work picks up. 

The mines had a slow September: some shutdowns, no overtime, cutback 

on contractors, and no working stat. holidays. But no layoffs. Hopefully 

the rest of 2012 will be prosperous. 

Plans are under way right now for the Line Creek Kids Xmas Party. This 

is always a wonderful event. As always though, there’s always a lot of work 

(labour of love) for the volunteers. We hope to see a good response. 

December 7th and 8th (Friday and Saturday) are the dates. Last year we had 

about 250 people show up. 

There is a federal Bill out there called Bill C-377. This is a right wing 

conservative push to hound legitimate Unions. It seems that the Federal 

Conservatives don’t appreciate workers having a collective voice through 

their Unions, as evidenced by all the back to work legislation we have seen. 

Just don’t take my word on this; look up the Bill on the Net for yourself. If 

you agree with me, get in touch with your Member of Parliament to voice 


Pre-election goodies may be coming 

Brian Lefebvre, Member Representative 

2012 has been a very busy year in 

District 6. We have had difficulties at times finding members 

to fill orders from contractors. Many times we have had to 

look at other halls for operators or permit hires from the 

street. 

As for upcoming construction work, it is rumoured that 

with a provincial election in 2013, there will be more 

Highways work let in the area. Primarily paving, but also 

some passing lanes added to Highway 3 in District 6. We will 

wait and see what pre-election goodies the Liberals put on 

the table. 

Many issues slowing the coal industry 

Gordon Chaisson, Member Representative 

As for the shops in the area, there is an overall increase 

in business for them. Our Members have been working more 

hours and there is a steady stream of new hires— a good sign 

the economy is heading in the right direction. 

2012 kept me busy with numerous bargaining sessions 

as it was the year for the renewal of many Collective 

Agreements. At times there were up to 6 separate sets of 

negotiations going on at the same time. 

From my family to yours, have a wonderful and safe holiday 

season. All the best in 2013. 

your displeasure. This bill is not required! 

The other issue out there that picks me is 

this: Do we need all of these temporary foreign 

workers to do underground mining? 

Give me a break! Since when did we come to 

the conclusion that Canadian workers 

couldn’t be trained? The only reason we have 

a shortage of skills is a lack of training and 

funding. These two items are both being 

offered to temporary foreign workers, so why 

not residents of Canada? Proper training also 

helps to decrease safety problems. Let’s face 

the facts folks – Asia has a terrible safety 

record when it comes to underground mines. 

Are they going to bring that horrible record 

to northern B.C.? We in Canada don’t want 

and don’t need another Westray mine disaster! 

Training and sound safety practices 

together saves lives and also lead to a business 

being successful! 

In closing, I want to wish all of our members 

and their families a Merry Christmas 

and a happy and safe New Year!

EXCLUSIVE OFFER 

FOR IUOE 115 MEMBERS 

In celebration of the new Operating Engineers Branch of Community Savings, we are 

offering our union sisters and brothers an exclusive limited-time offer: 

$2 UNLIMITED 

CHEQUING 

+ 

$115 

CASH 

BONUS 

When you open the GO Unlimited Chequing account with a direct payroll/pension 

deposit or a pre-authorized debit, we’ll give you $115 cash. 1 Plus, we’ll make it 

easy for you to switch with our Carefree Switch Service. 

This week, drop by the new branch (4590 Hastings St, Burnaby) to take advantage 

of this exclusive offer. We’ll take care of everything. We can even transfer your 

automatic payments and close your current account. 

Call 1-(888)-963-2000 or visit www.ComSavings.com/IUOE115 for details. 

1. Some restrictions apply. IUOE 115 union card must be shown to qualify. All standard member terms and conditions apply.

Benefits & Pension Report 

Financial 

position of 

pension plan 

remains strong 

Shawn Hatch, Administrator 

The 2012 financial statements 

for the Operating 

Engineers’ Pension Plan for the year ended April 30, 

2012 are near completion. 

The statements contain some good news including 

the following highlights: 

• The market value of the Phillips Hager & North 

(PHN) bond portfolio appreciated by $81,000,000 

as a result of favourable improvement in economic 

conditions. The overall PHN investment 

portfolio increased by approximately $92,060,000, 

representing a 24% increase for the year. 

• Contributions increased by approximately 

$6,970,000 or 24% over last year. This reflects the 

higher number of hours our members worked 

during the year. 

• Other financial indicators remained fairly stable. 

• Net assets available for benefits are $1,013,752,735 

and the actuarial present value of accrued benefits 

is $964,630,000 resulting in a surplus position 

for the plan overall. 

As the global economic recovery is fragile, the 

Trustees of the pension plan will continue to work closely 

with its financial and investment advisors through the 

coming year to meet the challenges ahead. 

Tool Allowance 

The Tool Allowance is available to mechanics, 

millwrights, welders and servicemen. 

Applications for the Operating Engineers’ Tool 

Allowance were mailed out in October. Please be 

advised that the deadline for submitting applications 

for a tool allowance reimbursement is Dec. 

31st, 2012. 

To qualify, members must have worked a minimum 

of 250 hours for an employer who contributes, 

on their behalf, into the Tool Allowance Fund. 


In MEMorIaM 

Remembering members who 

have recently passed away 

MAY, 2012 

LOGAN, Mel R. 75 May 3 

JULY, 2012 

CAMPELL, Theo B.. 84 July 29 

AUGUST, 2012 

KOPACH, John W. 86 August 1 

HOOGSTINS, Benn 75 August 13 

PEREPOLKIN, Walter 75 August 13 

DAVIDSON, Michael L. 54 August 15 

CLARK, Steve 63 August 19 

GUENTHER, Manfred W. 83 August 19 

NEAL, Douglas D. 66 August 31 

SEPTEMBER, 2012 

GREEN, Peter E. 68 September 2 

ELCHUK, Peter 86 September 3 

CLEMONT, James W. 68 September 7 

HENTGES, Raymond J. 76 September 7 

ORSI, Giovanni 81 September 11 

MCMILLAN, Dennis G. 72 September 15 

STRUTHERS, Jeff H. 80 September17 

FRASER, Del K.G. 74 September 19 

NICKEL, Henry 89 September 20 

HARRISON, John V. 92 September 22 

FAST, Jacob K. 64 September 30 

WILSON, Robert B. 63 September 30 

OCTOBER, 2012 

KINGSWOOD, Jack L. 78 October 3 

PALADINO, Anthony 95 October 3 

HADDOW, Norman H. 80 October 4 

LOEWEN, Dan V. 64 October 5 

WILLIS, Donald A. 82 October 7 

LEITCH, John D. 89 October 92 

LIM, Hugh G. 82 October 16 

SLOPER, Cliff M. 86 October 11 

CONAT, Ray H. 61 October 28 

HOSPITALIZED MEMBERS AS OF OCTOBER 18, 2012 

MOSKALYK, Jim Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital

Training Programs 

This year was fantastic, next year will be busy 

Brad Randall, Administrator 

2012 was a fantastic year for Operating Engineers. We 

have a very busy year coming up at the Training Site. Starting 

in January we are providing our regular Plant Operator, 

Asphalt Laydown, Excavator / Backhoe and Level 2 Mobile 

Crane courses as well as our 12-week Heavy Equipment 

course. We will continue to provide on-the-job training for 

our members and contractors. 

Heavy Metal Rocks 

The IUOE Local 115 Training Association participated 

in the first annual Heavy Metal Rocks in Nanaimo from 

October 10–12, 2012. Approximately 25 grade 11 and 12 

students from School District 68 and 69 enjoyed three days 

of training and hands-on experience operating multiple 

pieces of Heavy Equipment. 

Students are being 

exposed to new career 

options in the 

construction industry 

where historically they 

have not been in the past. 

The Heavy 

Metal Rocks 

Program has 

been a huge 

success across 

the Province. 

This program 

was launched in Prince George in 2005. Along with Prince 

George, this program is also put on in another 6 communities 

across BC, including the Elk Valley, Kamloops, Kelowna, 

Williams Lake, Fort Saint John and now Nanaimo. 

Students are being exposed to new career options in the 

construction industry where historically they have not been 

in the past. Students who showed promise were selected to 

receive further training at our Maple Ridge Training Site 

and are now working for signatory employers across the 

province. 

Heavy Equipment Operator Program 

We have been providing the Heavy Equipment Operator 

(HEO) apprenticeship program designated by the Industry 

Training Authority (ITA). The in-school technical training 

component of the apprenticeship consists of both theory 


and practical instruction covering six pieces of heavy equipment: 

Dozer, Articulating Rock Truck (ART), Backhoe, 

Loader, Excavator and Grader. 

This apprenticeship varies from the traditional hourbased 

model by including both the logging of practical 

equipment seat time and the need to achieve specified competencies. 

Hours logged under direct supervision as well as 

the demonstration of competencies are recorded in program 

specific logbooks issued to the apprentices at the conclusion 

of in-school training. 

Along with specific competencies determined for each 

piece of equipment, the following seat time hours must be 

logged: 

• Dozer 200 hours 

• ART 200 hours 

• Backhoe 200 hours 

• Loader 300 hours 

• Excavator 400 hours 

• Grader 600 hours 

Apprentices completing all program requirements are 

issued a BC Certificate of Qualification with endorsements 

on one or more pieces of heavy equipment. 

Heavy Equipment Operator Program Challenge 

A challenge process has been established for incumbent 

operators. For the first time, the knowledge, skills and abilities 

of journeyperson heavy equipment operators are being 

recognized with the designation of the trade by the ITA. An 

application package is available through the Training 

Association for qualified equipment operators who wish to 

receive trade designation. This package consists of forms 

which must be completed by both the operator and the 

employer, attesting to equipment experience (time in the 

trade) and competency. In order to qualify, the operator 

must have a minimum of 150% of the hours required for 

each piece of equipment (example: Dozer – 200 hours X 

150% = 300 hours). The cost to challenge is $120.00. 

continued next page 



BC Certificate of Qualification or Equivalency 

In order to receive a Certificate of Qualification (C of Q), 

those operators deemed to have sufficient time in the trade 

must successfully complete the program examination, invigilated 

by the ITA. Even though the operator may be applying 

for only one or two equipment endorsements, the examination 

covers all six pieces of equipment. An examination study 

guide is available through the Training Association. Exams 

may be written in Vancouver, Maple Ridge, Chilliwack, 

Prince George, Vernon and Victoria. The C of Q is required 

for all operators wishing to teach the HEO apprenticeship 

program. For more information and assistance please contact 

the Training Association at 604-299-7764. 

Tool Allowance 

The Operating Engineers Tool Allowance provides reimbursements 

for tool expenditures for Heavy Duty Mechanics, 

Servicemen, Millwrights and Welders. To qualify, you must 

be a member in good standing, dispatched in the trade in 

which you are applying for, and have worked a minimum of 

250 hours between September 1, 2011 and August 31, 2012 

for an employer who contributed to this fund. Applications 

were sent out to qualifying members in the first week of 

October and the deadline for submissions is December 31, 

2012. If you qualify for this allowance but have not received 

your application, or have any questions, please contact the 

Training Association at 604-299-7764. 

Annual Pensioners Banquet 

As a Trustee of both the Pension and Benefits Plans, I 

had the pleasure of attending the recent Annual Pensioners 

Banquet. This year it was held at the Italian Cultural Centre 

in Vancouver. It was great to see the retirees, who have con 

ThinkSafety L 


tributed so much to the organization over the years, now 

enjoying their hard-earned pensions, getting together with 

old work mates and reminiscing about past jobs. Once again 

the staff did a great job organizing this event. 

On behalf of the Training Association staff and your 

Board of Trustees, I would like to wish all of the membership 

and their families a very Merry Christmas and a healthy, safe 

and prosperous New Year. 

Work safely. 

Brothers Chris Gilburg, Chris Jorimann, Gary Christian, Oliver 

Cordts, Daniel Mireau, Bryan Klassen, Roger Mongeau, Pierre 

Lanoue, , Mike Jabs, Paul Nociar, Rick House and Tom Kinnear 

(Training Coordinator). The members just finished writing 

their Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) challenge exam at 

the training site. Brother Robyn Bishop (Instructor) provided 

a refresher course for the members the week before to help 

prepare them for the exam. Picture taken by Brother Al Cooper 

(Executive Board member). 

O C A L 1 1 5 

It’s not just a slogan. It’s a way of life.

Brothers Mike Margetts, Ed Skeeles, Ken Griffith, Gordie Smidts, Wally 

Meadows, Andy Peterson, Steve Brisson, Curtis Harold (Member 

Representative) and Tom Kinnear (Training Coordinator). Tom Kinnear 

instructed students on the basic operations of an excavator and mobile 

crane in our simulator trailer. Many retired members volunteered 

their time to show the students how to operate the various pieces of 

equipment. 

Brother Russell Brophy being presented with his Commercial Transport 

Vehicle Mechanic Certificate of Qualification with Interprovincial Red 

Seal Endorsement by Brother Randy Grisewood (Training Coordinator). 

Russell works for Inland Kenworth/Parker Pacific in Prince George. 

Brother Jared Redlon being presented with his Heavy Duty Mechanic 

Certificate of Qualification with Interprovincial Red Seal Endorsement 

by Brother Randy Grisewood (Training Coordinator). Jared served his 

apprenticeship at Inland Kenworth/Parker Pacific in Prince George. 


Brother Darren Warren being presented with his Heavy 

Equipment Operator BC Certificate of Qualification with 

both the Excavator and Dozer endorsements by Brother 

Tom Kinnear (Training Coordinator). Darren served his 

entire apprenticeship working for Gemco Construction 

Ltd. 

Brother Marty John being presented with his Mobile 

Crane Operator – Lattice Boom Hydraulic Certificate of 

Qualification with Interprovincial Red Seal Endorsement 

by Brother Jeff Gorham (Training Coordinator). During 

Marty’s apprenticeship, he has worked for Sterling Crane, 

GWIL Crane Service, Lehigh and at the Waneta Dam 

expansion project. 

Brother Dennis Podovennikoff being presented with his 

Mobile Crane – Hydraulic 80 Tonnes and under Certificate 

of Qualification by Brother Randy Grisewood (Training 

Coordinator). Dennis served his apprenticeship for West 

Kootenay Mechanical in Trail. 



Brothers Randy Grisewood (Training Coordinator), Mobile 

Crane apprentices Chris Gardner and Sean Allemang, 

Sheldon Blomly (HEO apprentice), Craig Lolacher (Excavator 

Operator), Tom Kinnear (Training Coordinator) and Jason 

Vipond (Crane operator – sitting in the crane). Craig and 

Sheldon working for Bel Pacific had their excavator lifted out of 

an excavation downtown by Kansen Crane Service. 

Brother Corrie Thiessen being presented with his Mobile Crane 

- Hydraulic Unlimited BC Certificate of Qualification at the 

District 1 meeting by Brothers Brad Randall (Administrator & 

Vice President) and Randy Grisewood (Training Coordinator). 

Corrie completed his apprenticeship at Kansen Crane Service. 

Member Representative Rob Duff and Training Coordinator 

Randy Grisewood participated in the Kitimat Job Fair on 

September 22, 2012. There was a lot of interest in the Job Fair 

as approximately 400 people attended to see what type of job 

opportunities were available. 


Kansen Crane Service lifting a Cat 345 excavator out of an 

excavation site in downtown Vancouver for Bel Pacific. 

Brother Doug Younger, a WorkSafeBC Occupational Safety 

Officer and crane inspector, visited the Operating Engineers 

Training Site in Maple Ridge. Doug spoke with our level 1 Crane 

Common Core class about crane operator responsibilities and 

certification requirements. Pictured are Leslye Peters, Brother 

Younger, students Megan Edwards, Jesse Fentie, Damian Radzik 

and Mike Alexander and instructor Rick Anderson. 

Brother Chris Brodoway being presented with his Mobile 

Crane Operator – Hydraulic Lattice Boom BC Certificate of 

Qualification with Red Seal endorsement by Brother Jeff Gorham 

(Training Coordinator). Chris finished his apprenticeship while 

working for DLB Cranes Ltd.

District 2 Membership Awards Presentations 

Congratulations to our 10-year members 

Brother Rae Potter Brother Lorenzo Barausse Brother David Salter Brother Don Lewis Brother Kirk Battryn 

Our 20-year members 

Back row: President Wayne Mills; Brothers Phillip Morris, Bruce Anderson, William 

Jeffrey, Genesio Mari, George Hoytema and Tony Brown; Business Manager Brian 

Cochrane. Front row: Brother Peter Holm; Member Rep Chip Dhaliwal; Brothers 

William Drahoff, John Metson, Robert Northam, Richard Demeter and Charles Teeple 

Brother Ari Franco 

Brother Terry Leonard 


Brother Richard Hart 

Brother Miles Thomas, Member Rep Wayne 

Kemp, and Brother Richard Morgan 

Brother Bruce Fletcher 

Brother Robert Allaire 


Membership District 2 Awards Presentations 


Brother Gerald Brown 

Brother George Sneddon 

Back row: President Wayne Mills; Brothers Stuart Vhal and Keith Clark; Business Manager 

Brian Cochrane. Front row: Brothers Rodney Pawluski, Attilio Merola and William Nesteruk 

26 News News December December 2012 


Brother Tom Hudson and Member Rep Brad Gerow

District 2 


Brother John Bell 

Back row: President Wayne Mills; Brothers Walter Watts, John Regan, Andre Lussier and 

Fernand Rebulet; Business Manager Brian Cochrane. Front row: Brothers Roger Ollerich, 

William Dyck, Arrhenius Lapre, Leonard Wills, Siegfried Reidies and William Clemas 


Membership Awards Presentations 

Brother William Reid Brother Don Fairbairn Brother Glen Willing Brother Gerry Weatherston 

Brother Charles Hanaghan Brother Robert Bruce Brother Patrick Savard Brother Mario Stancati Brother Fred Laboucane 


District 2 



Back row: President Wayne Mills and Business Manager Brian Cochrane. 

Front row: Brothers Frank Musialek, Phillip Gamble and Giuseppe Biason 

Brother Walter Evans 

Brother Elmo Sturgeon 

28 News News December December 2012 


Brother Jim Glennie Brother Joseph Fagan 

Brother Valther Sorensen Brother Frank Moody 

Brother George Millikin

District 2 

Brother Anthony Sawchuk 

Brother James Cassidy 

Brother Walter Brown Brother Fred Glover 

Brother Ronald Rhodes 


Brother John Riesen Brother Joe Musialek 

Brother Dennis Kaetler 


Brother Marvin Magnison 




President Wayne Mills; Brothers Edward Thiessen and John Hirschmann; Business Manager 


Brother Doug Lampman Brother William Frohlick Brother Colin Mitchell 

30 News News December 2012

10 Years 

RONALD AASMAN 

JAMES ABDAY 

JOHN AEICHELE 

LARRY ANDRES 

DALE ANWEILER 

LARRY AVIS 

LORENZO BARAUSSE 

MITCH BARISOFF 

KIRK BATTRYN 

DANIEL BAYOFF 

JON BENNETT 

JOHN BRANDEL 

TIMOTHY BRENTON 

W. EDWARD BRICKER 

GEORGE BRONOWSKI 

SIMON BROWN 

CALVIN BRYANT 

TYLOR BRYSON 

IAN CAMERON 

SCOTT CAMPBELL 

TODD CARLTON 

CHARLES ( CHUCK ) CASE 

GARY CHAMPAGNE 

ROBERT CHISAN 

KEVIN CLARKE 

JORDAN CLEMONT 

ALAN COLLETT 

ANDREW CORBETT 

HARRY CUMMINS 

ROLAND CURNOW 

MICHAEL DE GROOT 

SHAWN DE LUCA 

ALLEN DEFERRO 

KELLY DERKSEN 

RANDY DESHARNAIS 

WAYNE DETTWILER 

BRIAN DINGWALL 

Donald Dodge 

DAVID DUNFIELD 

REG EMERSON 

TROY FANTUZ 

MARK FELKER 

DEAN FERGUSON 

ANTONIO FERREIRA 

MICHAEL FLYNN 

GORDON FOX 

GEORGE FROST 

EMILE GAGNON 

LARRY GAIR 

ALEX GAZSO 

SHELDON GIBB 

FRANCO GIOMO 

LEON GIRARD 

GABRIEL GIRIMONTE 

GLEN GREEN 

JIM GURR 

TIM HALL 

REGINALD HARRISON 

GREG HEARNDEN 

KENNETH HIEBERT 

THOMAS HINDLE 

MICHAEL HOBBS 

ROBIN HODGINS 

DAVID HOHM 

WAYNE INGHAM 

ROBERT JINDA 

BROOKE JOHNSON 

JOHN JOHNSON 

LARRY JOHNSON 

KEITH JOHNSTON 

ROBERT JUDSON 

GERALD JULSETH 

JAYNA JUNG 

MICHAEL JUNG 

MARLO KAWCHUK 

GREGORY KIENLEIN 

KEVIN KIVELA 

JAMES KOLYBABA 

TRENT KUNZ 

AARON LABERGE 

ADRIAN 

LEFTWICH - SWANSTON 

JARET LENART 

GARY LENIHAN 

LAWRENCE LINKLATER 

BILL LUMSDEN 

GUY MADRIGGA 

JUSTIN MAISONNEUVE 

JASON MARSH 

JERRY MARSH 

PATRICK MARTIN 

BILL MCALLISTER 

BRIAN MCCARTHY 

Membership Service Awards August to October 2012 

Membership service awards 

RONALD MCCAUGHAN 

GEOFF MCLEAN 

ROBERT MCWILLIAMS 

SEAN MERCER 

LAWRENCE MICHIEL 

WRAY MILLS 

JIM MILTON 

ALLAN MINKE 

DOUGLAS MONTEITH 

RICK MORRIS 

EDWARD MORRISON 

KENNETH MORTON 

PATRICK NOLAN 

PAUL NOLIN 

MILES O BRIEN 

JONATHAN OLSEN 

JAMES OLSON 

GILLES OUELLET 

JAMIE PARADOSKI 

ROCKY PARSONS 

LOUIS PAUL 

DONNIE PAULSEN 

FRANK PECENKA 

ROBERT PENDLETON 

MIKE PENNER 

LARRY PHILLIPS 

DENNIS PODOVENNIKOFF 

ALBERT POIRIER 

DONALD POOLE 

ALAN POTAPOFF 

STEPHEN QUINN 

DARRELL RANCE 

JEFFERY RANGER 

WALTER RICHARDSON 

GUY RIDLER 

BRIAN RINGER 

JOHN ROBINSON 

JEREMY RODD 

ERIC ALBERT RONDQUIST 

ROBERT ROTAR 

DAVID SALTER 

DARREL SCHAFER 

MIKE SCHOTT 

RAY SCHULTZ 

LAWRENCE SHUTER 

THOR SIGURDSON 

CLIFFORD SINCLAIR 

ANGUS SMITH 

HARDING SMITH 

RUSSELL SMITHANIK 

RYAN SPENCE 

QUENTIIN SPERLING 

ALAN STAUB 

DALE SUETTA 

ANDREW SURINAK 

DON TAIT 

STEVE TAIT 

KEN TAYLOR 

JAMES THARP 

NEILSEN THOMAS 

BILL THOMPSON 

DREW THORNETT 

BYRON THRIFT 

GORDON TRITES 

DWIGHT UNRAU 

STEWART UNRAU 

MARK VALAIR 

TED VAN ADRICHEM 

THOMAS VANDENBRINK 

ERIC VENUS 

MARK VERIGIN 

RANDY VHAL 

ERIC VOGL 

MARK VOYKIN 

WILLIAM WARD 

RANDY WATKINS 

KEITH WEBSTER 

WAYNE WELSH 

ROBIN WERBOWSKY 

SCOTT WHITE 

DOUGLAS WILLMENT 

JAMES WILSON 

SVEN WITTFOTH 

RON WRIGHT 

STEVE WRIGHT 

TODD YOCKEY 

JOHN YOUNG 

DIRK ZEINSTRA 

20 Years 

ROBERT ALLAIRE 

BRUCE ANDERSON 

JOE ASCHENMEIER 

BILL BALOG 

continued next page 



ROBERT BASTOCK 

CLAYTON BEHNKE 

DENNIS BELYAN 

KELVIN BERGEN 

WILLIAM BERGEN 

KEN BICHEL 

WENDY- LEE BLACK 

RONYTH BRADY 

TONY BROWN 

MICHAEL BROWNING 

DEL BURK 

WILLIAM BURKHOLDER 

PHIL BURNETT 

WILLIAM BURNHAM 

DARIO BURTINI 

LARRY BYERS 

JAMES CAINE 

DAVE CARDIN 

LEO CHAMPAGNE 

FRANCIS CHAND 

THOMAS CHASE 

MARCO CLAROT 

SCOTT CLEMONT 

MARTIN CLERMONT 

DONALD COOK 

DAVE DALBY 

FRANCOIS DAVIGNON 

WILLY DECRAENE 

EDUARDO DELA CRUZ 

RICHARD DEMETER 

GURDIP DHALIWAL 

ADRIAN DIXON 

WILLIAM DRAHOFF 

RON DUSSIN 

JOHN DYCK 

ROBERT EDGE 

BRUCE EGGEN 

BRUCE EISNER 

CHARLES ELLIS 

GERRY ELLIS 

WILLIE EVDOKIMOFF 

RONALD FALK 

ROBIN FELKER 

ARLEN FENNINGS 

BRUCE FLETCHER 

BENOIT FOUILLARD 

ARISTIDES FRANCO 

KULDIP GARCHA 

BENOIT ( BEN) GAUDET 

COLIN GERVAIS 

BRIAN GILBERT 

BRUCE GLADIUK 

METRO GORDY 

GORDON GREEN 


DAVID GREER 

BRIAN HACHEY 

FRANK HALFPENNY 

STEVEN HANSON 

RICHARD HART 

HARLEN HATCHARD 

DARYL HENRY 

RALPH HOGG 

PETER HOLM 

DARCY HOOGE 

GEORGE HOYTEMA 

KENNETH IVERSON 

GARY JACQUES 

WILLIAM JEFFREY 

MARTIN JENSEN 

BRIAN JICKELS 

RANDY JOE 

BRADLEY JONES 

BALJINDER KHATRA 

BARRY KILGOUR 

ROBERT KIRKPATRICK 

DONALD KOLONSKY 

BARRY KORONKO 

RICK LANE 

ALLAN LARSEN 

WILLIAM LATTMAN 

STEVE LAUCKNER 

SON KIM LE 

TERRANCE LEONARD 

BRIAN LESEELLEUR 

MURRAY LOEHNDORF 

RAYMOND LOGAN 

TRUONG LU 

JEFFREY MACINTYRE 

LLOYD MAGER 

GENESIO MARI 

WILLI MARS 

SHELDON MAYERT 

PATRICK MCCRACKEN 

GARY MCKORYK 

JOHN MEDCALF 

ROBERT MEERMAN 

JOE MELTON 

JOHN METSON 

ED MICHEL 

MICHAEL MITCHELL 

PETER MITFORD 

JOSEPH MONFORD 

HARLAND MOORE 

DUANE MORPHET 

DAVID MORRIS 

PHILIP MORRIS 

BRENT MORRISON 

KEITH MUFFORD 

RANDY MULLER 

FRED MUSKETT 

LANCE MYLES 

BERIT NAPIER 

ARTHUR NEWHOOK 

CHRIS NICHOLS 

DOUGLAS NICOLL 

ROBERT NORTHAM 

MURRAY OHMS 

TORGER OLSEN 

DANIEL PAGE 

MIKE PATCHETT 

RUSSELL PENNY 

LANCE PETERSON 

ELDON PETRESCUE 

JAMES PETTETT 

DANIEL PHELAN 

GAETANO PORTOGALLO 

HARTMUT PRATZ 

WILLIAM REEDEL 

ERNIE RIETZE 

DONALD ROACH 

RUSSELL ROBILLARD 

TERRENCE RODWAY 

KENNETH RORISON 

HARNINDER SAHOTA 

LARRY SEEBACH 

MARK SIMPSON 

JOHN SIRAY 

RONALD SJOGREN 

LEONARD SMITH 

TRACEY SMITH 

THEO STOBERG 

WADE STOWE 

KERRY STREICHERT 

PETER SZLOVICSAK 

JOHN TABAK 

ROGER TAYLOR 

WILLIE TAYLOR 

CHARLES TEEPLE 

IAN TIMBRELL 

JASWANT TOORE 

RICHARD TOWNSEND 

NEIL TRELEAVEN 

SCOTT TREMBATH 

HENRY VAN EPP 

RICHARD VAN GEEL 

JOHN VERMEER 

MICHAEL VINING 

DAN WALL 

THOMAS WALTON 

BOB WEISS 

WILLIAM WHITE 

LARRY WILLIAMS 

DONALD WILSON 

ALEC WOOD 

RON ZELISKO 

30 Years 

E. RICHARD ANDERSON 

WILLIAM BARKER 

FRED BARTELS 

ANDRE BEAUDET 

ART BERGSTROM 

CHARLES BERNIER 

PETER BONDERUD 

JOHN BONNEAU 

NICK BOOLINOFF 

CHESTER BROEN 

GERALD BROWN 

LORY CAIL 

GORDON CAIRNS 

PETER CALLOW 

ROGER CAOUETTE 

RICHARD CASE 

FREDERIC CLARK 

KEITH CLARK 

JAMES CROOK 

ROBERT DEMIDOFF 

JAMES DOJACK 

CARL EKMAN 

MURRAY ELLIOTT 

OVE ERICKSON 

JOE EVANS 

DOMINIK FASSLER 

AUGUST FELLER 

DOUG FLAWSE 

FRANKLIN FODOR 

ALLAN GULKA 

JERRY HARDER 

JOHN HARRISON 

LARRY HAYES 

TOM HUDSON 

CORNELES G. HUISMAN 

PETER HUSBAND 

NORMAN JAMES 

JAMES JAMIESON 

MURRAY JOHANSEN 

DOYLE JOHNSON 

CASEY JONES 

MARK KELLEY 

JOHN KLASSEN 

DOUGLAS KOKOSZKA 

ROBERT KRAHN 

LARRY KRAMER 

EARLE LESLIE 

RUSSEL LINWOOD 

LANE LOSSING

DAVID LUEY 

RICHARD MARTINDALE 

RANDY MELENCHUK 

ATTILIO MEROLA 

TINO MICHALAK 

RICHARD MILLER 

JOHN NANSON 

RAY NENDICK 

WILLIAM NESTERUK 

EUGENE NIEMINEN 

RAY OLSEN 

RICHARD OLSON 

WALTER OTTING 

KORY OVENS 

WILFRED PALMER 

DANIEL PATTERSON 

RODNEY PAWLUSKI 

SID PETERS 

DENNIS RITCHIE 

RONALD ROGERS 

PAUL RUSCH 

EDWARD RYAN 

DAVID SCHEMBRI 

LYLE SCHNEIDER 

TERRY SCOTT 

WILLIS SHORE 

GABRIEL SISKA 

ROBERT SLATER 

HOWARD SMITH 

WAYNE SMITH 

GEORGE SNEDDON 

ROBERT SPADEMAN 

JOHN STEWART 

GRANT STONEHOUSE 

DAVID SYKES 

ROBERT TANNER 

DOUG THOMPSON 

NICOLAAS VAN DER PEET 

STUART VHAL 

WILLIAM WELLS 

DAVID WHITE 

PETER YOUNG 

BRIAN YULE 

LEONARD ZIEBART 

40 Years 

RUSSELL ALLEN 

EARL ALYWARD 

VINCENT ANDREWS 

CLIFF BAKER 

TREVOR BEETON 

JOHN BELL 

WAYNE BERLINGER 

JOHN BESTWICK 

AL BIEBERSTEIN 

CARL BONDERUD 

ROBERT BRUCE 

KENNETH BRUNELLE 

STEVE BURGER 

CLARENCE BUSCH 

RICHARD CARLICK 

WILLIAM CLEMAS 

LESLIE CUTRELL 

ALLAN DECOCK 

ARTHUR DELANGE 

NEALE DRIVER 

ROBERT DURRELL 

WILLIAM DYCK 

DONALD FAIRBAIRN 

GIOVANNI FERRARO 

FRANK FISCHER 

WESLEY FRASER 

EDWARD FRIESEN 

ARTHUR GILSON 

JOHN GRAY 

PAT GUDMUNDSON 

RANDY GUIZZETTI 

R. CHARLES HANAGHAN 

HENRIK HANSEN 

WILFRED HANSEN 

RICHARD HARMAN 

HANS HARTSKAMP 

DONALD HEAD 

JACK HEMBROFF 

TIMOTHY HOWELL 

NORMAN JAHNKE 

HOWARD JOHNSON 

HAROLD JOHNSTON 

WALTER JOY 

GORDON KACHKOWSKI 

KEN KENNEDY 

FRED LABOUCANE 

PETER LANGEREIS 

ARRHENIUS LAPRE 

EDWARD LEFTWICH 

FRANK LITCHFIELD 

CASEY LOGAN 

DONALD LUND 

ANDRE LUSSIER 

MARCO MACCHI 

GORDON MACKENZIE 

ASHLEY MACLEOD 

BARRY MADER 

WILLIAM MC GOWAN 

ALLEN MCLEAN 

RAY MCLEAN 

WILLIAM MELESKO 

IRVING G. MOORE 


JACK MUIR 

ROGER OLLERICH 

GUERRINO PALUDETTO 

ATTILIO PATRIGNANI 

DENNIS PETERSON 

ERIK PLOUGFELT 

FERNAND REBULET 

JONN REGAN 

WILLIAM REID 

SIEGFRIED REIDIES 

RONALD ROSHINSKY 

PATRICK SAVARD 

JOHN SCHNEIDER 

ARNOLD SCHWEITZER 

JOHN SCOTT-POLSON 

JAKE SLOOTWEG 

NORMAN SMALLEY 

COLIN SPRINGFORD 

NOEL TARLING 

EDWARD TRENHOLM 

WAYNE TRUEMAN 

LORNE WALLBANK 

WALTER WATTS 

GERALD WEATHERSTON 

GERALD WILLIAMS 

GLENN WILLING 

LEONARD WILLS 

RICHARD ZAYTSOF 

50 Years 

GIUSEPPE BIASON 

WALTER BROWN 

JAMES CASSIDY 

RICHARD DUREKSEN 

WALTER EVANS 

JOSEPH FAGAN 

PHILLIP GAMBLE 

JAMES GLENNIE 

continued from Page 1 

Business Manager’s report 

FRED GLOVER 

GEORGE GORRIE 

MARVIN MAGNISON 

GEORGE MILLIKIN 

FRANK MOODY 

ALEX MURRAY 

FRANK MUSIALEK 

JOE MUSIALEK 

LUCIEN PRIVE 

RONALD RHODES 

ANTHONY SAWCHUK 

ELMO STURGEON 

WALTER THOMPSON 

LINDSAY TUBMAN 

THOMAS WHITE 

60 Years 

WILLIAM FROHLICK 

DONALD HILL 

JOHN HIRSCHMANN 

COLIN MITCHELL 

JOHN RIESEN 

ALEX TARANKO 

EDWARD THIESSEN 

As I say, these are exciting times and there is a lot of 

work to be done in the coming year. In light of this one 

ending, I want to thank you for your support and for all 

the supportive letters we received working for the interests 

of Operating Engineers. 

So then, on behalf of the Officers, Executive Board 

and Staff, I wish you and your families the very best this 

Holiday Season and look forward to seeing you at a 

District meeting sometime in 2013. 


August to October 2012 

Welcoming 329 new members to Local 115 

Colin Abbass 

Sherwin Almarez 

Neil Anderson 

Elsie Antuna 

Larry Appel 

Matthew Armstrong 

Kjell Asdal 

Tim Ashworth 

Ranjit Baath 

Darren Babcock 

Hendrick Badenhorst 

Pushpaul Bains 

Alan Baker 

Niculae Balan 

Clyde Barfett 

Mike Basar 

Timothy Baskerville 

Michael Batiuk 

Jerret Beal 

David Belisario 

Robert Bell 

Philip Bernard 

Matt Bertram 

Louis Bezuidenhout 

Robert Birkeland 

Roger Boon 

Mark Booth 

Eric Botha 

Robert Bowery 

Chris Breckeridge 

Ethan Broadhead 

Kyle Brocke 

Sean Brooks 

Jamie Brown 

Kirk Brown 

Gerald Browne 

Paul Bruder 

Larry Brulotte 

Mitchell Brunner 

Shane Buckley 

Kenneth Burrill 

Andrew Bush 

Jeff Butler 

Jamie Cabintoy 

Brandon Cain 

Charles Calliou 

Jesse Chahal 

Darrin Chandler 

Ian Chandler 

John Chandler 

Tina Chapman 

Sidney Charman 

George Chauncey 

Jimmy Chen 


New iniatiates sworn in at the General Membership meeting in September. 

Back row: President Wayne Mills; Sister Jenna Nursey; Brothers Clayton 

MacFarlane, Garrett Ewasiuk, Brian Giesbrecht, Colby Lindsay and Chris Adams; 

Business Manager Brian Cochrane. Front row: Brothers Scott Murphy, Timothy 

Barrett, Travis Chin and Harold Moody; Sisters Barb Burns and Arlene Lindsay; 

Brothers DJ (Delbert) Nicol and Jordan McBain. 

Travis Chin 

Joseph Cleave 

Amanda Cochrane 

Michael Cole 

Jefferey Collicutt 

Stephen Copeland 

Jay Cottle 

Garry Coulter 

Troy Curson 

Alex Daigneau 

Lance Davis 

Curtis Davyduke 

Stephen Dea 

Alfred Deglan 

Stephen Dickerson 

Brian Dinn 

Jackson Downing 

James Downing 

Jason Drinkwater 

Bradley Duncan 

Ryan Dyck 

Richard Egan 

Jay Emary 

Dean Empson 

Mike Enever 

Derrick Evans 

Jeremiah Ewasiuk 

Heather Ewen 

Darren Farrell 

Marco Ferrante 

Andrew Ferreira 

Terry Finlayson 

Peter Fitzmaurice 

Robert Foster 

Gordie Frew 

Peter Fulton 

Kyle Furness 

Chris Gallo 

John Gallo 

Scott Garneau 

Jean-Guy Gaudet 

Drew Geldart 

Jonathan Giles 

Jason Gilkerson 

Jatinder Gill 

Michael Gledhill 

Chris Godfrey 

Brian Goodwin 

Kurt Gordon 

Bert Goss 

Darcy Greggor 

Ronald Griffiths 

Mike Grudzien 

Susan Gunderson 

Lloyd Guzzo 

Michael Habans 

Abdelmajid Habity 

Adam Hall 

Shane Halliday 

Nigel Hamacher 

Ken Hamilton 

Jesse Hancock 

Quinton Hansen 

Jayson Hardie 

Edward Hartley 

Shawn Hatch 

Keith Havener 

Lois Hawke 

Scott Hawkins 

Kirk Henry 

Court Hiebert 

Colby Hillson 

Troy Hindle 

George Hockl 

Karl Hoggatt 

Tanner Holland 

Daniel Howell 

Tim Howells 

Rhett Humphreys 

Philip Hunt 

Peter Inch 

Greg Iverson 

Brice James 

John Janczyn 

Willie Jansenvanvuuren 

Ilisun Jin 

Joseph Johns 

Nicholas Johnson 

Wayne Johnson 

Michael Jones 

Rebecca Jones 

Sheldon Joynes 

Daniel Judd 

Kelly Kallin 

Bryan Kedziora 

Travis Kelley 

Christopher Kelly 

Zakary Kinder 

Chad Kirby 

Scott Klapp 

Thomas Klassen 

Mike Klatt 

Dayton Klein 

Dwayne Kline 

Mark Klippenstein 

Paul Koekkoek 

Terry Kopp 

Jason Krickan 

Jason Kusey 

Nick Kutin 

Erin Lainey 

Pierre Lanoue 

Firstname Lastname 

Stuart Layne 

Kam Lebourdais-Louis 

Chris Leck

Colton Leduc 

Bruce Leon 

Kelly Lepage 

Brian Letkeman 

Garry Letts 

Alexander Levy 

Kevyn Lewis 

Kurtis Lindsay 

Damian Long 

Kevin Lovas 

Grant Lukawitski 

Liana Lumsden 

Shawn Macdonald 

Clayton Macfarlane 

Paul Maitland 

Loukas Makris 

Colin Malcolm 

Craig Martin 

Brent Masso 

Adrian Matthews 

Darren Matthews 

Sukhbir Mattu 

James McBride 

Brent McBuire 

Michael McDowell 

Trevor McLaren 

Ryan McLean 

Frank McMillan 

Joe Melinchuk 

Dave Meller 

Greg Mellors 

Kent Merrylees 

Bryant Meyers 

Rhys Middleton 

Jason Milligan 

Rob Milligan 

Samuel Mills 

Harry Minhas 

Travis Minion 

Evan Moffett 

Brian Moldowan 

Harold Moody 

Tyler Moore 

Robert Morton 

Gurpal Mroke 

Jordan Mueller 

Sukhchain Multani 

Steven Murphy 

Ian Narod 

Fred Nelson 

Kurt Nelson 

Tyler Noon 

Edwin Norsworthy 

Daniel O Connor 

Randy Olexyn 

Daniel Ollenberger 

Kirk Olsen 

Travis Olson 

Kuljit Pabla 

Richard Pacheco 

Harpinder Parmar 

Perry Parsons 

Andrea Peckford 

Brine Pelletier 

Robert Pelly 

Dana Pelto 

Daniel Petryshen 

Garnet Pierre 

Cody Pippus 

Michael Pollard 

William Pomponio 

Tommaso Ponzini 

Michael Preston 

Glen Prochner 

Larry Pruden 

Joshua Rankin 

Aaron Rawlins 

Rodney Rehbein 

James Reid 

David Rindero 

Jeff Ritchie 

Cindy Robertson 

Jeff Robson 

Kevin Rohs 

Leonard Rooney 

Daniel Rose 

Garnett Ryshak 

Sean Samuel 

Jason Santos 

Jeff Sauer 

Gregor Scheffer 

Erick Schroeder 

Reggie Schroeder 

Gregory Sheremeta 

David Shiloff 

Corey Shupe 

John Sigouin 

Jatinder Sihota 

Colin Simlik 

Timothy Simmonds 

Parminder Singh 

Tejinder Singh 

Gerry Smith 

Krista Smith 

Leonore Smith 

Lindell Smith 

Michael Smith 

Cory Solmonson 

Delling Sorochan 

Brad Soucie 

Don Soukochoff 

Kevin Spagnol 

Bruce Spinney 

Kyle Squire 

Tyler Stapleton 

Ward Steckle 

Cale Stern 

Don Storey 

Michael Stubbins 

Ryan Stuiber 

Alanna Sutton 

Scott Swinburne 

Kyle Taylor 

Cory Thomas 

Jerome Thomas 

Travis Thompson 

Tyler Thomsen 

James Thorne 

Scott Titterington 

Eugene Tolmay 

Lily Tourond 

Kyle Turcotte 

Roger Valliere 

Len Van Boven 

Wayne Van Geel 

Tom Van Luyn 

Andrew Vanbeek 

Dave Vanderkroft 

Jan Vanderschyff 

Cody Vanghel 

Lukas Vanrensburg 

Emery Vautour 

Trafford Wace 

Benjamin Walker 

Jack Walker 

Ian Walks 

Matthew Waterbeek 

Erik Waterman 

Shawn Watmough 

Nadine Weidner 

Rick Weiszbeck 

Doug Wickenhieser 

Rick Wilkinson 

Allen Willey 

Brett William 

Chad Williams 

Lyle Williams 

Terry Wishnowski 

Richard Wood 

Pensions 

awarded 

August to October 


Daniel Attridge 

Ivano Ballan 

W. Robin Bond 

Serge Boyer 

Murray Case 

Giuseppe Dallavalle 

Jose Dejesus 

Ian Eastman 

Robert Evans 

James Finnigan 

Patrick Glynn 

Norman Goodell 

Victor Harrison 

Robert Hrehirchek 

Ralph Hubl 

Curt Jardey 

Lawrence Michiel 

Gordon Minet 

Lloyd Rach 

Stephen Rennie 

Valentin Rohde 

David Sherdahl 

Roy Smith 

Gordon Trites 

Patrick Willis 

Silvano Zanin 

David Zukewich 


Member Information 

IUOE Local 115 – Merchandise 

Toques (black) $ 8.00 

Hats (navy, black, brown) $ 15.00 

Embroidered logo 

Hats (new style) $ 20.00 

Black and navy with a diamond pattern on peak 

Orange, and orange with navy on brim 

Safety T-shirt (navy) (M – 4XL) $ 20.00 

Long sleeve, logo on back, right sleeve “Safety” 

Organizing T-shirts (navy) (L - 4XL) $ 20.00 

Long sleeve, logo on back, right sleeve “Organize” 

Hooded Sweatshirts (navy) (S – 4XL) $ 40.00 

Full zip, logo on front left 

All prices include tax 

and shipping charges. 


Hooded Sweatshirts (black) (X - 4XL) $ 40.00 

Full zip, logo on front left 

Microfibre Vests (black) (M - 4XL) $ 45.00 

Logo embroidered on left front 

Bomber Jacket (black) (M - 4XL) $ 70.00 

Logo embroidered on left front 

Custom Bomber Jacket (black) (M – 4XL) $100.00 

Logo embroidered across back 

Union Pulsar Watches $125.00 

(men’s and women’s) 

Make cheque or money order payable to 

“IUOE Local 115” and send to: 

IUOE Local 115 Merchandise 

4333 Ledger Ave. 

Burnaby, B.C. 

V5G 3T3 

Holiday office hours 

for all Local 115 offices 

Mon., Dec. 24 Closing at noon 

Tues., Dec. 25 Closed all day 

Wed., Dec. 26 Closed all day 

Thurs., Dec. 27 Closed all day 

Fri., Dec. 28 Closed all day 

Mon., Dec. 31 Closing at noon 

Tues., Jan. 1 Closed all day

Local Union Offices 

District 1 and Main Office 

4333 Ledger Ave., Burnaby, B.C. V5G 3T3 

Phone: 604-291-8831 Toll Free: 1-888-486-3115 

Fax: 604-473-5235 

E-mail: iuoe@iuoe115.com 

Business Manager: Brian Cochrane 

President: Wayne Mills 

Mgr. Administration & Special Projects: Lynda Arland 

Office Manager: Arlene Lindsay 

Member Representatives: 

Frank Carr Brett Chapman Everett Cummings 

Chip Dhaliwal Bob Higgs Craig McIntosh 

Stewart Miller Don Swerdan 

Dispatcher: Jim Flynn 604-473-5231 

Organizing Representatives: 

Rob Duff and Jared Hamlin 604-473-5206 

Benefits and Pension Plans: 

Shawn Hatch, Administrator 

Direct line: 604-299-8341 Fax: 604-473-5236 

Training Association: 

Brad Randall, Administrator 

Direct line: 604-299-7764 E-mail: oetp@iuoe115.com 

District 2 

Vancouver Island: 

Tim Cullen and Curtis Harold, Member Representatives 

35 Wharf Street, Nanaimo, B.C. 

Mailing Address: PO Box 213 Stn A, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5K9 

Phone: 250-754-4022 Fax: 250-754-5513 

District 3 

Kamloops-Revelstoke-Okanagan: 

Brad Gerow & Rob de Pfyffer, Member Representatives 

785 Tranquille Road 

Kamloops, B.C. V2B 3J3 

Phone: 250-554-2278 Fax: 250-554-1766 

District 4 

Central Interior-Yellowhead: 

Herb Conat & Wayne Kemp, Member Representatives 

#115 - 513 Ahbau Street 

Prince George, B.C. V2M 3R8 

Phone: 250-563-3669 Fax: 250-563-3603 

District 5 

Peace River and Yukon Territory: 

Mike Spiruda, Member Representative & Organizer 

Site 20, Comp 19 SS2 

Fort St. John, B.C. V1J 4M7 

Phone: 250-787-9594 Fax: 250-787-9491 

Tumbler Ridge Mining Office 

220 Main Street, Tumbler Ridge, B.C. V0C 2W0 

Phone: 250-242-3888 Fax: 250-242-3881 

District 6 

East and West Kootenays: 

Brian Lefebvre, Member Representative 

#102 - 105 9th Avenue S. 

Cranbrook, B.C. V1C 2M1 

Phone: 250-426-4562 Fax: 250-426-6882 

Gordon Chaisson, Member Representative 

103 Centennial Square,Sparwood, B.C 

Mailing Address: PO Box 1567, Sparwood, B.C. V0B 2G0 

Phone: 250-425-2161 Fax: 250-425-2166 

Meeting Notices for 2013 

General Membership 

Saturday, March 16, 2013 

Saturday, September 21, 2013 

9:30 a.m. at 4333 Ledger Ave., Burnaby 

District 1 

BURNABY—1st Thursday of every month 

EXCEPT: March & September (because of general 

membership meetings) 

7:30 p.m. at 4333 Ledger Ave., Burnaby 

District 2 

Monthly meeting locations alternate: 

NANAIMO— 2nd Monday of odd months, 6:00 p.m. 

at the Coast Bastion Inn, 11 Bastion St. 

VICTORIA—2nd Wednesday of even months, 7:30 p.m. 

at the Pro Pat Legion Branch 31, #292—411 Gorge Rd. E. 

CAMPBELL RIVER/COURTENAY—Thurs. Jan. 10, 2013, 6 p.m. 

at the Halbe Hall, 8369 Island Highway, Black Creek 

— Members will be advised of meeting dates. 

District 3 


KAMLOOPS—2nd Thursday of even months 

7:30 p.m. at the Union Hall, 785 Tranquille Rd. 

KELOWNA—2nd Tuesday of odd months 

7 p.m. at the Teamsters Hall, 185 Froelich Rd. 

District 4 

PRINCE GEORGE—2nd Wednesday of each month, 

8 p.m. at the Days Inn, 600 Quebec St. 

PRINCE RUPERT, TERRACE, KITIMAT, SMITHERS 

—Members will be advised of meeting dates. 

District 5 


FORT ST. JOHN—2nd Tuesday of odd months, 

7:30 p.m. at the Masonic Hall, 10441 100th Ave. 

DAWSON CREEK—2nd Tuesday of even months, 

7:30 p.m. at the Carpenters Hall, 900 118th Ave. 

TUMBLER RIDGE/PEACE RIVER COAL— 

Date, time and place will be posted. 

WHITEHORSE—Members will be advised of 

meeting dates and times. Teamsters Hall, 407 Black St. 

District 6 


CASTLEGAR—1st Wednesday of odd months 

7 p.m. at the Super 8 Inn, 651 18th St. 

CRANBROOK—1st Tuesday of even months 

7 p.m. at the Labour Centre (Boardroom), 

105 9th Ave. South 

ELK VALLEY COAL CORP.—Line Creek Mine— 

Date, place and time as posted. 

Member Information 


After January 1, 2013, you can 

submit all 2012/2013 EHC and 

Dental claims to Pacific Blue Cross 

FOR DRUGS Show your ID card at the pharmacy for pay direct drug adjudication. 

You will only be charged for amounts not covered by your drug plan. 

FOR VISION, CHIROPRACTIC, PHYSIOTHERAPY AND MASSAGE CLAIMS 

You may continue to submit paper claim forms for EHC treatment and expenses to 

Pacific Blue Cross. Additionally, for the paramedical providers above, you may submit 

your claims online through CARESnet. 

FOR DENTAL CLAIMS Your provider can submit electronic claims to Pacific Blue Cross 

on your behalf. Please ensure your dentist’s records are updated with your new ID and 

group numbers. 

For other benefits visit us online at to download claim forms. 

Our website is full of information to help you get the most out of your benefits. 

Take a tour at 

pac.bluecross.ca/CARESnetTour 

AFTER AFTER JAN JAN 11 

® Pacific Blue Cross, the registered trade-name of PBC Health Benefits Society, is an independent licensee of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans. BC Life is the registered trade-name of British Columbia Life & Casualty 

Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pacific Blue Cross. CARESnet is the registered trade-mark of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans, an association of independent Blue Cross Plans, and is used under license to Pacific 

Blue Cross. My Good Health is a trade-mark owned by Pacific Blue Cross. 0640.007.001 11/12 CUPE 1816

IUOE News - Winter 2012

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